NHTSA Complaint #733672 — 1997 FORD F-250

THE FOLLOWING IS THE TEXT OF A LETTER THAT I SENT TO FIRESTONE ON 8-10-2000. ALL THAT THEY DID WAS SEND ME FORM LETTER THAT DIDN'T EVEN APPLY TO MY TIRE. CAN YOU ASSIST IN OBTAINING COMPENSATION?: IN 1997, I PURCHASED A NEW 1997 FORD F-250 EXTENDED CAB LWB DIESEL TRUCK (FROM VALLEY FORD IN ONEONTA, AL). IT CAME EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE "STEELTEX RADIAL A/T LT 235 85 R16 M/S" TIRES.I WAS VERY CAREFUL TO MAINTAIN THE PROPER TIRE PRESSURE AND STAY WELL UNDER THE RATED CARRYING CAPACITY AT ALL TIMES FOR SAFETY REASONS. ON 3-24-2000, APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES AFTER I HAD (COINCIDENTALLY, I SUPPOSE) CHECKED FOR THE PROPER PRESSURES AND CAREFULLY INSPECTED ALL THE TIRES, WHILE LOADED AT OVER 1 TON LESS THAN THE BED CARRYING CAPACITY, TRAVELLING AT ABOUT 50 MPH AFTER DARK IN A MOSTLY RURAL AREA, THE LEFT REAR TIRE LITERALLY EXPLODED. I NEARLY LOST CONTROL, BUT I MANAGED TO SLOW DOWN AND PULL ONTO A CONCRETE DRIVE AND CHANGE THE TIRE. THE WHEEL HUB WAS SERIOUSLY ABRADED/SCRATCHED. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE LEFT OF THE TIRE. I HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF HITTING ANYTHING AFTER THE ABOVE DESCRIBED TIRE INSPECTION.EVEN THOUGH I HAD AT LEAST 40% TREAD LEFT ON ALL TIRES, THIS SCARED ME SO MUCH THAT I WENT AND BOUGHT A NEW SET OF FOUR TIRES THE VERY NEXT DAY.I HAD NOT GIVEN IT ANY MORE THOUGHT UNTIL THE RECENT PUBLICITY OVER FAILURES OF FIRESTONE RADIAL TIRES COMING AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON FORD TRUCKS AND SUVS DURING THIS PERIOD. SO, IN MY OPINION, A VERY CAREFULLY MAINTAINED TIRE (AS MINE WAS), WELL "UNDERLOADED" INSPECTED IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, PROPERLY INFLATED, WORN ONLY 60%, AND SUBJECTED TO NO "INJURY" SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED, ESPECIALLY IN SUCH A DRAMATIC/DANGEROUS FASHION, AND THEREFORE MUST HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE WHEN SOLD.I AM ASKING FOR COMPENSATION FOR AT LEAST PART OF THE COST OF MY NEW SET OF TIRES ($767.99NTBHOOVER, AL).R CRAIG BRADLEY 8-10-2000 (TIRESIZE: 235 85 R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235 85 R16 )