NHTSA Complaint #753859 — 1999 GMC SIERRA

I WAS TRAVELING ON A RURAL PAVED ROAD IN WILLCOX ARIZONA (REX ALLEN DR.) I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MPH WHEN THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW. I KEPT THE TIRE AND DO HAVE PICTURES OF THE TIRE AND WHEEL WELL DAMAGE TO MY TRUCK. LOOKING AT THE TIRE (WHAT'S LEFT), IT LOOKS LIKE THE TIRE SEPERATED CAUSING THE DAMAGE. ALSO, THE ALUMINUM WHEEL IS SCRATCHED BECAUSE IT HIT THE PAVEMENT. IT WAS A SUNDAY AND WILLCOX, AZ IS A SMALL TOWN. I DROVE TO A LOCAL TRUCK STOP (RIP GRIFFEN TRUCK & TRAVEL CENTER - ABOUT 5 MILES AWAY) THAT ACTUALLY SOLD FIRESTONE/BRIDGESTONE, BUT NOT FOR REGULAR TRUCKS. I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE WITHOUT A SPARE (THE SPARE WAS USED) SO I PURCHASED A KUMHO TIRE OF THE SAME SIZE (IT IS NOW THE SPARE). I DROVE TO TUCSON AZ (ABOUT 70 MILES - CLOSEST LARGE TOWN) AND DIDN'T WANT TO CHANCE DRIVING ON THESE FIRESTONES SO I WENT TO ONE OF THE ONLY SUNDAY OPENED TIRE STORES WHICH WAS SAM'S CLUB AND PURCHASED 4 NEW GOODYEAR TIRES AGAIN OF THE SAME SIZE AS THE FIRESTONES. I DO HAVE PICTURES OF BOTH THE TIRE (ONLY KEPT THE DAMAGED TIRE - THE OTHER 4 TIRES I CHECKED THE SERIAL NUMBER AND THEY ALL MATCHED AND LEFT WITH THE SAMS CLUB) AND THE WHEEL WELL DAMAGE. THE ALUMINUM WHEEL IS SCRACHED PRETTY BAD ALSO. I ALSO HAVE ALL THE RECEIPTS FOR REPLACING THESE 5 TIRES. I ONLY ESTIMATED ON THE DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL WELL AND ALUMINUM WHEEL.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W273WMA059 TIRESIZE: 265 75R 16)