NHTSA Complaint #743647 — 2000 SUBARU FORESTER

IN TWO SEPARATE INCIDENCES, ON 9/26/2000 AND 03/30/2001, AN ORIGINAL BRIDGESTONE TIRE SUPPLIED WITH A NEWLY LEASED SUBARU FORESTER HAD A BLOWOUT WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WE REGULARLY CHECK TIRE PRESSURE, AND ALL PRESSURES WERE ON SPECIFICATIONS, 29PSI FRONT AND 36PSI REAR. YET THEY BLEW OUT. LUCKILY THE DRIVER HAD BOTH HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL, AND THE CAR COULD BE STOPPED SAFELY, WITHOUT HUMAN DAMAGES. IN THE BLOWOUT ON 03/30/2001, HOWEVER, THE RIM SUSTAINED DAMAGES AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE TIRE. IN BOTH CASES THE BLOWOUT WAS THROUGH THE SIDEWALL, AND NOT AS A RESULT OF ANY PUNCTURE. IN BOTH CASES THE TIRE SIMPLY EXPLODED FROM THE INSIDE, FROM WHAT APPEARS TO BE A BUBBLE, POSSIBLY FORMED BY A SEPARATION OF THE RADIAL WINDINGS.*AK (DOT NUMBER: 274 TIRESIZE: 205/R75/15)