NHTSA Complaint #746281 — 2000 FORD F-350

THE OEM VALVE STEM WERE FOUND TO BE FATIGUED WHER THEY MOUNT TO TH RIM OF STEEL-TEX MOUNTED TIRES. THE RIGHT REAR INSIDE TIRE WENT DOWN FIRST AND THE SPARE WAS PUT ON. THEN TWO DAYS LATER THE LEFT REAR INSIDE TIRE WENT DOWN DUE TO VALVE STEM FAILURE. IT WAS FOUND AT THE TIME OF MOBILE SERVICE REPAIR THAT THE LEFT FRONT TIRE VALVE STEM WAS SEVERELY FATIGUED AND THE AMBULANCE WAS REMOVED FROM SERVICE UNTIL IT WAS DRIVEN TO A TIRE SHOP WERE THE REMAINING 5 OF 7 VALVE STEMS WERE REPLACED. ALL THE ORIGINAL TIRES WERE PUT BACK ON THE GROUND AND THE SPARE WAS STORED. TWO DAYS LATER THE RIGHT REAR INSIDE TIRE HAD A BLOW OUT WHILE ENROUTE TO THE HOSPITAL WITH A PATIENT ON BOARD. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH THE SPARE WHICH IS A STEEL-TEX TIRE. THE SPARE WAS REPLACED AND STORED AWAY. THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY FURTHER PROBLEMS WITH THESE TIRES AS OF 06/02/01. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W10P1XN070 TIRESIZE: LT21585R16)