NHTSA Complaint #759182 — 1992 SAAB 9000

THIS COMPLAINT CONCERNS BLIZZAK WS-50 WINTER TIRES MANUFACTURED BY BRIDGESTONE AND PURCHASED NEW FROM "THE TIRE RACK" THESE TIRES HAVE NOT EXHIBITED A "FAILURE" IN THAT THEY HAVE NOT DEFALTED, BLOWN OUT, SHREDDED ETC.THE CONCERN WITH THESE TIRES IS THEIR HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS ON DRY PAVEMENT. THEY EXHIBIT EXTREME TREAD SQUIRM AND SIDEWALL FLEX. DURING CORNERING OR LANE CHANGES, THEY GIVE THE SENSATION THAT THEY WILL "TUCK UNDER" THE WHEEL RIM, LEADING TO A TIP OVER.THEY ARE AN EXTREMELY "SOFT" TIRE, WITH NO REASSURING FEELING OF SUPPORT IN THE SIDEWALL. IT SHOULD BE NOTED FOR SAKE OF COMPARISON THAT THE TWO PRIOR SETS OF WINTER TIRES ON THIS SAME VEHICLE WERE BRIDGESTONE WS-15 WHICH DID NOT EXHIBIT ANY OF THE AFOREMENTIONED NEGATIVE CHARACTERISTICS. I HAVE CONTACTED BRIDGESTONE BOTH BY PHONE AND CERTIFIED LETTER TO EFFECT A REPLACEMENT OF THESE TIRES, WITHOUT SUCCESS. I WILL MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION BOTH MY COPY OF THIS LETTER AND MY TELEPHONE CONVERSATION LOG IN THIS MATTER. THE VENDOR OFTHESE TIRES WAS "THE TIRE RACK". THIS ORGANIZATION MAINTAINS A WEB SITE BULLETIN BOARD FOR ITS CUSTOMERS TO POST COMMENTS REGARDING VARIOUS TIRES. I HAVE DOWNLOADED, PRINTED AND RETAINED SEVERAL CUSTOMER COMMENTS REGARDING THE NEGATIVE HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS OF THESE TIRES ON DRY PAVEMENT. I WILL ALSO MAKE MY VEHICLE AVAILABLE FOR TEST DRIVE BY THE LOCAL NHSTA OFFICE IF NECESSARY.PLEASE ADVISE.*AK (TIRESIZE: 19565QR15)