NHTSA Complaint #735001 — 1997 FORD ECONOLINE

I WAS TRAVELLING ON HWY.401 NEAR WELCOME, ONTARIO AT APROX. 100 KM/H WHEN I HEARD A LOUND BANG. I SAW LARGE PIECES OF TIRE TREAD FLYING OUT THE REAR OF MY MOTORHOME. ON EXAMINATION I SAW THE ENTIRE TREAD WAS MISSING FROM THE TIRE AND IT WAS STILL HISSING (AIR ESCAPING). I LATER LEARNED THAT THE TIRE DEBRIS HAD HIT MY EXHAUST PIPE AND DISLODGED IT CAUSING IT TO REST ON THE SEPTIC HOLDING TANK. HEAT FROM THE EXHAUST CAUSED SMOKE AND FUMES TO ENTER THE R.V. IT ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE HOLDING TANK WHICH WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE ORIGINAL AND HAD APROX. 30,000 KM. THE INFLATION HAD JUST BEEN CHECKED. I HAVE CONTACTED FIRESTONE CANADA AND THEY ADVISE THESE TIRES ARE NOT SUBJECT TO RECALL. I HAVE LEFT A VOICE MAIL WITH TRANSPORT CANADA BUT HAVE NOT HEARD BACK AT THIS TIME. I FEEL THAT PERHAPS THIS MODEL TIRE FAILED PREMATURELY AND THE FACT THE TREAD WAS GONE SHOULD PERHAPS BE INVESTIGATED FURTHER. THANK YOU. I COULD NOT PROPERLY FILL IN MY CANADIAN ADDRESS. MY PROVINCE IS ONTARIO, AND THE POSTAL CODE IS L5K 1C9 (TIRESIZE: LT225-75R1)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT225-75R1 )