NHTSA Complaint #752867 — 1995 BMW 325I

ON AUGUST 9,2001 A LEFT REAR TIRE DISINTEGRATED AT 60MPH. THE BRIDGESTONE FIRESTONE REPRESENTATIVE(AFTER CONTENDING THAT IT WAS NOT A MANUFACTURING DEFECT) AGREED TO REPLACE THE TIRE (STILL UNDER WARRANTEE - ABOUT HALF THE TREAD LEFT). WE HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING A SLOW LEAK ON THE RIGHT FRONT AND ON THE DAY OF THE FAILURE HAD BEEN IN THE SHOP TO BE TOLD THAT NOTHING COULD BE DETECTED IN THE RF TIRE - PRESSURE HAD BEEN CHECKED ON THE REAR. SUBSEQUENTLY WE CONTINUED TO LOOSE AIR IN THE RF TIRE AND EXPERIENCE A SHIMMY IN THE CAR. WE TOOK IT TO A COMPETITIOR WHO IN CHECKING THE TIRE DISCOVERED SIGNIFICANT DELAMINATION ON THE INSIDE EDGE TREAD OF THE TIRE. IN ADDITION THE REMAINING TWO TIRES ALSO SHOWED SIGNS OF DELAMINATION OF TREAD AND BELT. WE SWITCHED TO WINTER TIRES EARLY AND I HAVE THE SUSPECT TIRES IN MY POSSESSION. A CALL TO THE DISTRICT MANAGER OF BRIDGESTONE-FIRESTONE INDICATED NO INTEREST IN CHECKING ON THE POTENTIAL FOR A DEFECT OR COMPENSATION CONSISTENT WITH THE WARRANTY. BECAUSE ALL FOUR TIRES FROM THAT SET DELAMINATED IN THE SAME PLACE AND IN THE SAME WAY AND AT THE SAME TIME I AM HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS OF A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE COMPANY ALREADY HAS A TRACK RECORD OF FAILURE AND MY EXPERIENCE WITH PERSONNEL INDICATES COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR THE SAFETY ISSUES, EVEN AFTER THE PREVIOUS PROBLEMS. I AM CONCERNED THAT OTHERS WHO MAY NOT BE AS VIGILANT ABOUT TIRES COULD FALL VICTIM TO AUTO ACCIDENTS. CAN SOMETHING BE DONE. I WILL RETAIN THE TIRES FOR INSPECTION PENDING YOUR INTEREST IN THE ISSUE. THANK YOU. (DOT NUMBER: DLF076 TIRESIZE: P215/60R15)