NHTSA Complaint #744651 — 1999 FORD F-350

I HAD JUST CHECKED THE TIRE PRESSURES (70PSI) PRIOR TO LEAVING HOME. 45 MINUTES INTO THE TRIP, I FELT 2 OR 3 SECONDS OF ROUGH SHAKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND THEN A LOUD NOISE ACCOMPANIED BY A "DROP" OF THE LEFT REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I HAD TAKEN MY FOOT OFF OF THE ACELORATOR AT THE SHAKING AND MAINTAINED CONTROL WHILE GENTLY BRAKING AND WHEN SLOWED ENOUGH, PULLED OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. I WAS TOWING A GOOSENECK TRAILOR AND ALL WHIGHTS WERE WITHIN LOAD CAPACITY OF THE F350. THE SEPEAATED TIRE TREAD COMPLETELY TORE UP THE REAR PANEL OF THE TRUCK, TWO ESTIMATED WITHIN $50 OF EACH OTHER; LOWEST WAS $2654. I FILED A CLAIM WITH FIRESTONE TO PAY OR THE REPAIR AND WAS REQUIRED TO SEND THEM THE TIRE REMANTS AS PART OF THAT CLAIM. I THINK THOSE TIRES ARE TOO LIGHT FOR A SUPERDUTY TRUCK RATED AT 3600# LOAD CAPACITY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES WITH THE BLOW-OUT, BUT I CUT MY FINGER REALLY BADLY UNDOING THE BENT FENDER STRUT DAMAGED BY THE TIRE IN ORDER TO GET THE SPARE TIRE ON.*AK (DOT NUMBER: VNW81XL487 TIRESIZE: 265/75R16)