NHTSA Complaint #768456 — 1999 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN

I WAS DRIVING WESTBOUND ON THE WESTERN KY PARKWAY ON 10/13/2002 AT ABOUT 2200. ROADS CONDITIONS WERE DRY AND TEMPERATURE APPROX 55F. I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN VIBRATION, FOLLOWED BY THE SOUND OF A FLAT TIRE. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY SLOW EASE MY VEHICLE OVER INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE (RIGHT SHOULDER). I DEFINITELY HAD A FLAT. UPON INSPECTION I WAS HORRIFIED. THE TIRE WAS SMOKING TO THE POINT I BARELY SEE IT. I COULD SMELL BURNING TIRE. I DID NOT SEE ANY FLAME AND THE SMOKE QUIT WITHIN ABOUT 20-30 SECONDS. THE SIDE WALL OF THIS TIRE WAS BLOWN OUT, NEARLY SEPARATED AND HANGING BY TIRE CORD. IT LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE ANOTHER I SAW AT THE FOLLOWING LINK: HTTP://WWW.FIRESTONE-TIRE-RECALL.COM/PAGES/ACCIDENT_REPORTS/9-20_TIRE-BLOW.HTML. MY TIRE FAILURE IS EXACTLY THE SAME CUT OUT SHAPE, THE SAME CUT OUT SIZE AND AND SAME CUT OUT LOCATION AS THE ONE PICTURED, EXCEPT MINE IS HANGING BY TIRE CORD. I'M AMAZED THIS HAPPENED. MORE AMAZED IT'S BEEN HAPPENING. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING 32 YEARS, I NEVER SEEN A TIRE FAILURE LIKE THIS. I FEEL BLESSED TO HAVE ARRIVED HOME WITH 2 FIFTEEN YEAR OLD BOYS. MR