NHTSA Complaint #744652 — 1993 FORD E-150

LEFT MEMPHIS, TN FOR OUT OF TOWN TRIP ON 4/12/01. ALL FOUR TIRES ROTATED AND BALANCED BY LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER 5 DAYS BEFORE TRIP (ERIC PH 901-323-2627). STAYED MURPHREESBORO, TN OVERNIGHT. STARTED DRIVING 9AM 4/13/01, GOT TO MONTEAGLE, TN GOING UP HILL, THUMP, THUMP, THUMP. LOOKED - PEACH SIZE BULGE, INSIDE RIGHT FRONT TIRE, AT POINT WHERE SIDE WALL MEETS TREAD. PUT FOUR NEW TIRES ON AT MONTEAGLE DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. GOT BACK TO MEMPHIS, LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER, ERIC, CONFIRMED TREAD SEPARATION AS DID INDEPENDENT TIRE DEALER, GATEWAY TIRE. LOCAL DEALER OFFERED CREDIT FOR UNUSED TREAD TOWARD PURCHASE OF ONE REPLACEMENT TIRE. I DECLINED OFFER. CALLED FIRESTONE RECALL HOTLINE, PH 800-465-1904, 04/16/01, EXPLAINED PROBLEM, MY TIRES P235/75R15 105S MTS, DOT # VDHL AWR 447, WILDERNESS HT, WOMAN SAID NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE TIRE NOT ON RECALL LIST. I ASKED IF SHE WANTED MY NAME, ADDRESS AND INFORMATION SO THEY COULD CONTACT ME IF NEEDED OR TO REPORT PROBLEM AND SHE SAID NO. PLEASE CALL, WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT TO DO NEXT, WOULD BE HAPPY TO DISCUSS IN FURTHER DETAIL. I STILL HAVE ALL FOUR TIRES.*AK (DOT NUMBER: VDHLAWR447 TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)