1997 Chevrolet Silverado 2500

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE TRUCK AND THE LEFT REAR TIRE FELL APART. THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE AND CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK. APPROXIMATELY 90 - 95 % OF THE TREAD CAME OFF, ONLY A SMALL PIECE WAS LEFT ON THE TIRE. WHEN SHE TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL TIRE DEALER HE INSPECTED THE TIRES AND SAID SOME OF THE OTHERS WERE ALSO SHOWING SIGNS OF THE SAME PROBLEM; TREAD / TIRE SEPARATION. THROUGH THE DEALER AND GENERAL TIRE CUSTOMER SERVICE I WAS GIVEN 4 TIRES AT HALF PRICE. I HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY TRIED TO GET REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE DAMAGE TO MY TRUCK. AT THIS POINT GENERAL TIRE IS SAYING THAT THE TIRE WAS DAMAGED BECAUSE THE TIRE HAD BEEN PATCHED. MY TIRE DEALER WHO PATCHED THE TIRE IS SAYING THAT THEY DID THE JOB ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS. I AM IN THE MIDDLE AS EACH PARTY IS POINTING TO THE OTHER ONE. I HAVE NEVER HAD TIRES THAT WERE AS BAD AS THESE. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK IN 1997, ONE YEAR OLD, WITH 7600 MILES ON IT. I MAKE IT A PRACTICE TO CHECK THE TIRES MONTHLY AND HAVE THE TIRES ROTATED ANNUALLY. THIS TRUCK IS NO EXCEPTION TO THAT PRACTICE. THESE TIRES AT THE TIME OF FAILURE WERE PROBABLY WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF NEEDING TO BE REPLACED AS THE TREAD WAS GETTING THIN. GIVEN THAT THE TRUCK ONLY HAD 20K MILES ON IT DOES NOT SPEAK VERY HIGHLY OF THE TREAD WEAR ON THESE TIRES. I HAVE A BIG PROBLEM WITH THE TIRE MANUFACTURER SAYING THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAMAGE. THEIR TIRE SEPARATED AND CAUSED THE DAMAGE. AS THE DEALER STATED TO ME AND GENERAL TIRE THERE WERE OTHER TIRES THAT HAD THE SIGNS OF THE SAME PROBLEM. IF MY WIFE HAD BEEN GOING 55 - 60 MPH TOWING OUR HORSE TRAILER I WOULD HATE TO THINK OF WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED. THE BOTTOM LINE IS I FEEL THESE TIRES WERE DEFFECTIVE AND THE GENERAL TIRE SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEM. THANKS FOR YOU ASSISTANCE ON THIS MATTER. PAT IRWIN. *AK( DOT NUMBER: AD11C9B206 TIRE SIZE: LT245//75R )