I PURCHASED FOUR USED SX 5000 STARFIRE (COOPER) 255/70-15 TIRES FOR MY 1981 FORD F-150 IN MARCH OF 2010. THE TIRES WERE MOUNTED TO WHAT I BELIEVE ARE 15X8 STEEL WHEELS BY THE INDEPENDENT TIRE SHOP THAT I PURCHASED THE TIRES FROM. I THEN DROVE FROM SAINT PETERSBURG, FL TO AUSTIN, TX ON THE TIRES WITH NO PROBLEMS. OVER THE NEXT TWO OR THREE MONTHS, I DROVE ABOUT 500 MILES ON THE TIRES WITH NO ISSUES, UNTIL ONE DAY ONE OF THE FRONT TIRES WAS FLAT IN MY DRIVEWAY, WITH THE TREAD SEPARATED IN ONE AREA. I REPLACED BOTH FRONT WHEELS WITH SPARE WHEELS AND TIRES (UNKNOWN EXACT SPECIFICATIONS, BUT SMALLER), AND WITHIN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, ONE OF THE REAR TIRES (AGAIN, IN MY DRIVEWAY) WAS FLAT, WITH THE TREAD SEPARATED. I PLACED TWO OTHER SPARE WHEELS/TIRES ON THE REAR AND PLACED THE SX 5000S IN MY GARAGE. WITHIN A WEEK, THE TWO SX5000S THAT HAD AIR IN THEM HAD BLOWN, AGAIN WITH THE TREAD SEPARATED. THE FAILURES OCCURRED WHEN THE WEATHER OUTSIDE TURNED HOT (SUMMER). TIRE PRESSURES WERE MAINTAINED NEAR (UNDER) THE MAXIMUM SIDEWALL SPECIFICATIONS, AND THE F-150 WAS NEVER OVERLOADED. THE TRUCK IS PRIMARILY USED FOR FAMILY TRANSPORTATION. I CALLED COOPER AT 1-800-854-6288 BECAUSE RECALL # 147 CLOSELY MATCHED THE PROBLEMS I EXPERIENCED, BUT I WAS TOLD MY TIRES WERE MANUFACTURED IN 2003 AND WERE NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. THE TIRE INFORMATION IS: DOT 3DM2 B7W3903 C14R. I WAS ADMONISHED BY THE COOPER REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT PURCHASING AND USING USED TIRES, BUT GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF ALL FOUR TIRES ESSENTIALLY BLOWING OUT WITH TREAD SEPARATION IN UNEXPECTED FASHION WITHIN A FEW WEEKS (OF SUMMER TEMPERATURES), I FEEL THAT THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM IS THE DESIGN OF THE TIRES, AND NOT THAT THE TIRES WERE ABUSED. UNTIL THE FAILURES, THE AIR PRESSURE IN THE TIRES DID NOT FALL OR RISE EXCEPT DUE TO AIR TEMPERATURES AND DRIVING FORCES, AND THE TREAD LIFE WAS AT LEAST 50%.
NHTSA complaint #10378457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD F150. ON JUNE 5, 1998 A SET OF 4 NEW GOODYEAR EAGLE GT2 TIRES , SIZE M+S P255/70R15 108S WERE INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE WITH AN ODOMETER READING OF 75,808 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER TWO YEARS ALL FOUR TIRES BEGAN TO SHOW VISIBLE CRACKS ABOUT 1 1/2 INCHES FROM THE RIM AROUND THE BEAD AREA OF THE TIRE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO GOODYEAR, AND WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS ONLY DRIVEN IN TOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,5733. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT AGAINST GOODYEAR SINCE THESE TIRES HAVE BEEN ONLY USED ABOUT 29,000 MILES AND BEGAN TO SHOW VISIBLE CRACKS TWO YEARS AFTER THEY WERE INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WANTED TO MAKE REFERENCE TO ODI 8008687 AND 10037981. IN ADDITION, DOT# WAS T277225-GCW-71MW, FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AND REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE; DO# T277223-GCW-71MW, REAR DRIVER'S SIDE; AND DOT# T277227-CGW-71MW, FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE.
NHTSA complaint #10187233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TREAD ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, CAUSING SLIGHT LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE REPAIR SHOP,WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE SEPARATION.
NHTSA complaint #10163321 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DROVE NEW VEHICLE WITH 1475 # TRUCK CAMPER WITHOUT INCIDENT 12 YEARS. REPLACED 4 TIRES, DIFFERENT BRAND, SAME SPECS. L REAR FAILED 4/15/05 AFTER 14,034 MILES ON TIRE.R REAR FAILED ON BELOW DATE WITH 16,102 MILES ON THE TIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10129376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DROVE NEW VEHICLE WITH 1475 # TRUCK CAMPER WITHOUT INCIDENT 12 YEARS. REPLACED 4 TIRES, DIFFERENT BRAND, SAME SPECS. L REAR FAILED 4/15/05 AFTER 14,034 MILES ON TIRE.R REAR FAILED ON BELOW DATE WITH 16,102 MILES ON THE TIRE.
NHTSA complaint #10129376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT AND EXPLODED, DAMAGING THE RIM. THE OCCURRED BECAUSE THE STEEL CORD BROKE AND THE TIRE DEVELOPED A KNOT. THIS WAS THIRD TIRE BLOWOUT DUE TO THE SAME FAILURE. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10074052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT WARNING, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPLODED INTO FLAMES. THE RIM OF THE WHEEL WAS SO HOT YOU COULD NOT TOUCH IT BY HAND. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER TO CHANGE THE TIRE. THE TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE #ATX P2335R75/R15 PLEASE FILL IN THE DOT # AND FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS INCIDENT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR FATALITY TO REPORT.
NHTSA complaint #10039924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TIRE TREAD SEPARATION ON 2 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. WHILE DRIVING ON 04/10/03 THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED PARTIAL TREAD SEPARATION WHICH RESULTED IN A BLOW OUT. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON 04/12/03 THE DRIVER'S REAR TIRE TREAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED AND ALMOST CAUSED A DANGEROUS COLLISION. TIRE INFO: DAYTON, RADIAL STAG ST 31X10.50R15LT, DOT-V060U6A118, NOT ORIGINAL, 90% OF TREAD INTACT, 2K-3K MILES ON TIRES AT TIME OF FAILURE. *NLM.....
NHTSA complaint #10015758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THESE TIRES ARE SEPARATING AND CLOSE TO BLOWING OUT!! UNFORTUNATELY I CANT AFFORD A NEW SET. THEY ONLY HAVE 15000 MILES ON THEM. I CONTACTED UNIROYAL AND THEY WERE VERY DEFIANT AND BRASH!! SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE KILLED USING THIS TIRE, IF THEY HAVENT ALREADY!! THIS TIRE IS ROTTED AND FALLING APART. IT WAS OBVIOUSLY MADE WITH FAULTY COMPONENTS!! DO YOUR JOD AND GET THIS TIRE OFF THE ROAD!!!!!!! MR
NHTSA complaint #767934 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THESE TIRES ARE SEPARATING AND CLOSE TO BLOWING OUT!! UNFORTUNATELY I CANT AFFORD A NEW SET. THEY ONLY HAVE 15000 MILES ON THEM. I CONTACTED UNIROYAL AND THEY WERE VERY DEFIANT AND BRASH!! SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE KILLED USING THIS TIRE, IF THEY HAVENT ALREADY!! THIS TIRE IS ROTTED AND FALLING APART. IT WAS OBVIOUSLY MADE WITH FAULTY COMPONENTS!! DO YOUR JOD AND GET THIS TIRE OFF THE ROAD!!!!!!! MR
NHTSA complaint #767934 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER FELT A BUMP, HE LOOKED IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AND SAW TIRE TREAD GOING IN CHUNKS ALL OVER THE ROAD, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE WHEN THE TIRE TREAD EXPLODED, UPON INSPECTION OF THE OTHER TIRES, THEY WERE ALL DISPLAYING CRACKS NEAR THE EDGE OF THE TREAD ON BOTH SIDES OF THE TIRE, WHICH WERE VERY DEEP, IN ONE PLACE THE CRACK WAS BEGINNING TO WIDEN AND THE TREAD WAS BEGINING TO SEPARATE FROM THE TIRE.(FIRESTONE TIRE FR 480 23575R15, DOT NUMBER VNHL M4)
NHTSA complaint #557403 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING THE REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION WHICH RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, AT THE TIME OF FAILURE THE TIRE REMAINED FULLY INFLATED, THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMT FROM FIRESTONE BUT WAS DECLINED BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT THE TIRE APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN OPERATING FOR AND UNKNOWN AMOUNT OF TIME WITH INSUFFICIENT AIR PRESSURE (FIRESTONE, FR721, P235/75R15, DOT VDHLF7U434, THE TIRE WAS MOUNTED ON A 1988 FORD F150 AND HAD 41002 MILES AT TIME OF FAILURE). *AK *NLM
NHTSA complaint #8013892 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE WASHING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT TIRE HAS STRESS MARKS AND THE TIRE IS SPLIT ON THE SIDE. FIRESTONE FIREHAWKSS20 P25570R15 #DOT NUMBER VDM2F204100302L. NLM
NHTSA complaint #8007897 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRE BLEWOUT ON EXPRESSWAY. DEALER AGREE AND GAVE DISCOUNT ON NEW TIRE. NOTICED SIDE WALL WHERE TREAD AND SIDEWALL COME TOGETHER HAD FUNNY CRACK IN SIDEWALL AND LOOKS LIKE WIRE OR FIBERS COMING OUT. ALL AROUNG THE PERIMETER OF THE TIRES.
NHTSA complaint #9004944 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WAS DRIVING 75MPH WHEN RIGHT REAR TIRE WENT FLAT. MANAGED TO STOP VEHICLE AND CHECK TIRES. VALVE STEM HAD DRY ROTTED AND FELL OFF. WAS NO WHERE NEAR OR IN TIRE. THIS CAUSED AIR TO LEAK OUT, AND TIRE FLATTENED IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. AT 15000 MILES , FOURTH ALSO HAD CRACKS IN ITS VALVE STEM. SECOND AND THIRD TIRES VALVE STEM WAS SPLITTING.
NHTSA complaint #893990 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.