NHTSA Complaint #768572 — 2001 CHEVROLET SILVERADO

PER THE MANUFACTURES DIRECTIONS I INFLATE THE TIRES TO 55PSI FRONT AND 80PSI REAR. I TOW A 30FT, 10,000LB FIFTH WHEEL WHOSE KING PIN WEIGHT IS 1600LBS. I DRIVE UP TO 60MPH TOWING AND BETWEEN 65 AND 70 WHEN NOT TOWING. I CHOOSE THE TRUCK TO PROVIDE A ONE THIRD SAFETY MARGIN FOR THE TRUCKS TOTAL CAPACITY. HAVE ROTATED THE TIRES FRONT TO REAR AS CHEVY RECOMMENDS AND INFLATED ACCORDINGLY. HAVE NOTICED LATELY THAT THE TIRES HAVE A CIRCUMFERENTIAL DEPRESSION MIDWAY UP THE TIRE SIDE WALL ON BOTH SIDES. IN THIS DEPRESSION AREA THERE IS CHECKING ON BOTH SIDES. THE CHECKING DOES NOT SHOW UP ON THE REST OF THE SIDE WALL. BEING FAMILIAR WITH TIRE MANUFACTURING THIS TELLS ME THAT THE RUBBER SHEET LAYUP PRIOR TO VULCANIZING IS NOT UNIFORM FROM BEAD TO BEAD AROUND THE TIRE. THIS MAY BE A POTENTIAL AREA OF SIDE WALL SEPERATION, DUE TO LOADING OR START UP AND STOPPING RADIAL TORQUE ON THE TIRE. ALL 4 TIRES EXHIBIT THIS BUT I DIDN'T NOTICE IT PRIOR TO ROTATING THEM. THE TIRES WERE MADE IN CANADA TO TPC 2012 MS 23572 UR BM05326-2 IF THIS HELPS. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THESE TIRES AND THE POSSIBLE PROBLEM THEY MAY HAVE. THEY ARE NOT TO THE POINT, WEAR WISE, THAT I WOULD BUY A NEW SET. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK AMD HOW YOU VIEW THIS ISSUE. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL OR EMAIL ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. I HAD TALKED WITH MR. GEORGE GILLESPIE AND HE ADVISED ME TO FILL OUT THIS QUESTIONAIRE, AND HE FOUND THIS ISSUE INTERESTING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. YOURS TRULEY, MIKE GRUDT DT