Ci 627

THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 PLYMOUTH BREEZE EQUIPPED WITH FALKEN SINCERA (NA) TIRES, SIZE: 195/70/R14 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE TIRE BEAD WIRE BECAME UNRAVELED, CUT THROUGH THE BRAKES LINE, AND FRACTURED THE LOWER BALL JOINT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE, WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE RETURNED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50 AND THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,000.

TIRE COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 70MPH. ONLY ABOUT 2 INCHES OF THE SIDEWALL ARE LEFT ON THE RIM. THE ENTIRE HALF OF THE TREAD-SIDE WAS GONE. NO IMPACT UPON EVENT. SIMPLY SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALL ALL THE WAY AROUND. I HAVE A PHOTO OF THE REMAINS. I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.

TWO LARGE BULGES ON INSIDE SIDEWALL. STUCK OUT APPROXIMATELY 3/4 OF AN INCH WITH THE SURFACE AREA OF A SLIVER DOLLAR. FELT INCREASINGLY LIKE UNBALANCED TIRE IN REAR. NEVER BLEW. DID NOT HIT ANY POTHOLES OR ROADWAY DEBRIS BEFORE OCCURRENCE. I HAVE RETAINED THE TIRE.

The contact owns a 2015 GMC Sierra 1500 equipped with Falken Tires, Tire Line: Wild Peak AT3W, Tire Size: LT285/55/R20, DOT Number: (NA). The contact stated that while driving at approximately 45 MPH, the front passenger's side tire became flat. There was no warning light illuminated prior to the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the contact was made aware that the driver's side tire had dry cracking on the inside sidewall and the front passenger's side and rear passenger's and driver's side tires had bead separation. The tires were not replaced. The tires were replacement tires. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 121,000.