NHTSA Complaint #767631 — 1992 VOLVO 960

PROBLEM CONSISTED OF TREAD SEPARATION DESPITE PROPER INFLATION OF 40 PSI AND MAINTAINING 50 MPH MAXIMUM SPEED LIMIT. IN CONTACTING LOCAL FIRESTONE / BRIDGESTONE DEALER TO CLAIM A REPLACEMENT BY MANUFACTURER WARRANTY FOR THIS VEHICLE SAFETY ITEM, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE OFFICIAL DECISION FROM 'HEADQUARTERS' WAS THAT MY WARRANTY CLAIM WOULD NOT BE HONORED DUE TO THE TIRE BEING "IN A HOT TRUNK FOR TEN YEARS". IF THIS IS THE OFFICIAL STANCE OF FIRESTONE / BRIDGESTONE THEY SHOULD PROVIDE A WRITTEN NOTICE TO ALL AFFECTED EARLY MODEL VOLVO OWNERS WITH THIS SPARE TIRE THAT THEIR TIRES HAVE A 'SHELF LIFE' AND NEED TO BE DISCARDED AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME DESPITE NO OUTWARD SIGNS TO THE CONTRARY. THIS SPARE TIRE HAS SEEN LIMITED USE AS CAN BE SEEN BY THE DEPTH OF THE TREAD AND IS NOT SHOWING ANY SIGNS OF 'DRY ROT'. IN FACT, IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN COATED WITH A PRESERVATIVE THAT HAS LEFT THE TIRE'S EXTERIOR FLEXIBLE AND FREE OF ANY CRACKS OR OUTWARD SIGNS OF AGING. FOR YOUR REFERENCE, THE ENTIRE DOT CODE ON THE TIRE'S SIDE WALL IS WF P7 B2E T441 AND THERE IS A NOTATION THAT THE TIRE WAS MADE IN SPAIN. I CAN ALSO PROVIDE NHTSA WITH PHOTOS OF THE TIRE IN QUESTION VIA E-MAIL OR SHIP YOU THE ACTUAL TIRE FOR YOUR INDEPTH EXAMINATION IF PROVIDED A FED-EX OR UPS ACCOUNT NUMBER AND A SHIPPING ADDRESS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME IF I CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH ANY ADDITONAL INFORMATION OR ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE. I WILL BE E-MAILING THE NHTSA WEBMASTER A TRANSCRIPT OF THE E-MAIL COMMUNICATION THAT HAS BEEN CIRCULATED BETWEEN FIRESTONE / BRIDGESTONE, VOLVO CUSTOMER SERVICE AND I.