NHTSA Complaint #756805 — 1995 SATURN SC1

ON MARCH 20, 2001, I PURCHASED 4 EXOCET WYNSTAR 205/40Z/R16 75W LOW PROFILE TIRES FROM REEVE'S TIRE IN JOPLIN, MISSOURI. ON OCTOBER 28, 2001, A FRIEND OF MINE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A BUBBLE IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. WHEN I CONTACTED REEVE'S, THEY TOLD ME THAT I MUST HAVE HIT THE CURB AND CAUSED AN IMPACT BREAK. YET, IF I HAD HIT ANY CURB IN THE TOWN WHERE I LIVE, I WOULD HAVE HAD DAMAGE TO MY WHEEL, SINCE THE TIRES ARE LOW PROFILE. BUT THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE WHEELS, AND THERE WERE NO RUB MARKS ON THE TIRE. I THEN CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AT 1-800-944-8414. THE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO REPLACE THE TIRE UNDER WARRANTY. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED ON 11/14/01. ON 01/02/02, A DIFFERENT FRIEND OF MINE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A BUBBLE AND A CRACK IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. I AGAIN CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY AGREED TO REPLACE THE TIRE UNDER WARRANTY. ON 01/11/01, I WENT TO JOPLIN, MISSOURI, TO REEVE'S TIRE, TO HAVE THE TIRE REPLACED. WHEN I GOT BACK IN MY CAR, AFTER THE TIRE HAD BEEN REPLACED, I WROTE DOWN WHAT THE MILEAGE WAS ON THE CAR AT THAT TIME. IT WAS 82,280.0. I THEN PROCEEDED TO DRIVE BACK TO PITTSBURG, KS, WHICH IS ABOUT 30 MILES, I BELIEVE. I DIDN'T THINK THAT I WOULD HAVE ANY PROBLEMS, BEING AS BRAND NEW TIRE WAS JUST PUT ON MY CAR. WHEN I WAS ABOUT 10 MILES FROM PITTSBURG, THE SIDEWALL OF THE BRAND NEW TIRE BLEW, THE ONE THAT HAD JUST BEEN REPLACED ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. I TEMPORARILY LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR, BUT THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY. I DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THAT COULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS, OR IF I COULD FIND OUT IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE TIRES. SO FAR, I AM NOT HAPPY WITH THE QUALITY OF THESE TIRES. ESPECIALLY SINCE REEVE'S WAS VERY WILLING TO CHARGE ME $125.00 PER TIRE, IF I COULDN'T GET THEM COVERED BY WARRANTY. I WOULD APPRECIATE A QUICK RESPONSE OF ANY KIND TO THIS. THANK YOU.*AK