2000 Dodge RAM 2500

The contact owns a 1998 Dodge Ram 2500 equipped with Mastercraft Tires, Tire Line: Courser AXT, Tire Size:245/75/R16, DOT Number: [XXX] . The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle started shaking abnormally. The contact stated that the abnormal shaking worsened, and the contact pulled over and discovered a bulge in the rear driver’s side tire. The contact replaced the tire with the spare and resumed normal driving. Upon returning to the residence, while inspecting the front passenger’s side tire, the contact cut his index and middle finger on the left hand due to the steel belt protruding from the tire. Upon further inspection, the contact discovered the same failure with the rear driver’s side tire that was replaced. The contact had not sought medical attention for the injuries. The contact attempted to call the manufacturer for assistance but was unable to reach a representative. The tires were not replaced. The tire failure mileage was approximately 3,000. The vehicle failure mileage was approximately 305,000. The VIN was not available. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE - RESULTING IN EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO TRUCK THIS WAS THE 2ND COOPER TIRE ON THIS TRUCK TO DO THIS - BUT WE FOUND THAT PROBLEM BEFORE IT CAME COMPLETELY APART - I DO NOT HAVE THE INFO ON THE EARLIER TIRE BECAUSE I TOOK IT TO MY TIRE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED IT WITH ANOTHER TIRE - SAME KIND. THIS TIRE WAS FROM THE OTHER SIDE THAT CAME APART AND DID THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE THIS TIME. *TR

2000 DODGE RAM 2500 PICKUP TRUCK WITH UNSAFE TIRES CUSTOMER WANTS FULL REFUND FOR THE PURCHASE FROM WALMART**CC THE CONSUMER STATED THAT ON MARCH 8, 2002 THE TIRE AND LUBE EXPRESS RECOMMENDED AND INSTALLED FOUR INAPPROPRIATE TIRES FOR THE VEHICLE. ONLY RECENTLY HAS IT COME TO THE CONSUMER'S ATTENTION THAT THEIR LOAD RATING AND MAXIMUM PRESSURE DOES NOT MEET THE TRUCK MANUFACTURERS RECOMMENDATION. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TIRES HAVE SINCE BEEN REPLACED WITH THE APPROPRIATE TIRES FOR THE TRUCK. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WOULD LIKE TO BE REFUNDED $396.32 AND REQUEST COMPENSATION FOR HIS SAFETY OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. HE ALSO STATED HE DELIVER THE ORIGINAL TIRES TO LOCAL WALMART FOR INSPECTION OR DISPOSAL. *TR

AT 62 MPH STEELTEX RADIAL AT DOT VNW81XL M/S 265-75-R16 THREW THE COMPLETE TREAD OF THE REAR TIRE AND BEAT THE TRUCK UP TO THE TUNE OF $4,000.00 BY INSURANCE ESTIMATE. TIRES ALL WEAR EVENLY ABOUT 3/4 THREAD LEFT ROTATED EVERY OTHER OIL CHANGE,ONLY SLIGHT WEATHER CHECKING NOTED AT THAT TIME. TIRE BEAT THE BED IN ABOUT 16",DESTROYED RUNNING BOARDS,TWISTED REAR BUMPER,DESTROYED REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. AFRAID OF OTHER TIRES. PARKED IT UNTIL I CAN GET AN ANSWER AS TO WHAT MY RIGHTS ARE. WILL HAVE TO PAY HIGH INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE AND GET TIRES REMOVED BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS KILLED. AFTER LOOKING AT THE ENTRIES ON THIS WEB SITE CONCERNING THESE TIRES SOMETHING APPEARS TO BE VERY WRONG HERE. SOMEONE SHOULD HAVE GAVE US FIRESTONE STEELTEX OWNERS A HEADS UP ABOUT A POTENTIAL PROBLEM INSTEAD OF SAYING THESE ARE NOT THE TIRES THAT ARE DEFECTIVE AND DROPPING THE PRICE TO TALK YOU INTO BUYING THEM. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH, THE FRONT LEFT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED COMPLETELY FROM THE TIRE, CAUSING IT TO FLATTEN. THE VEHICLE AND TRAILER WERE DAMAGED FROM THE ACCIDENT CAUSED BY THE TIRE FAILURE. THERE HAVE BEEN 12 FAILURES WITHIN A SIX-MONTH TIME PERIOD FOR THE SET OF TIRES IN QUESTION. THE MANUFACTURER ALLEGED THE TIRE FAILURE WAS DUE TO DRIVING ON UNDER INFLATED TIRES.

WE HAVE A DODGE 2000 MODEL 2500 4X4 PU THAT HAS A UTILITY BED ON IT. IT CAME FROM THE FACTORY WITH MICHELIN A/S LTX 245/75/16 LOAD E TIRES. 2 OF THE TIRES HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BY ROAD OBJECTS. THEY WERE REPLACED BY 2 GOODYEAR WRANGLER HT TIRES OF THE SAME SIZE INSTALLED ON THE FRONT. THIS TRUCK HAS MAJOR STEERING PROBLEMS AND WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD. SOME TIRE SHOPS HAVE TOLD ME THAT IT IS A RULE NEVER TO MIX MICHELIN LT RADIAL TIRES WITH LT RADIALS OF ANOTHER BRAND BECAUSE THEY CAUSE THESE PROBLEMS. I CANNOT GET THIS IN ANY DOCUMENTS NOR WILL THE COSTUMER SERVICE PEOPLE FOR THE TIRE COMPANIES CONFORM THIS. ORIGINAL TIRES HAVE 2/3 TREAD LEFT AND GSA MOTOR POOL MAINTENANCE CONTROL WILL NOT AUTHORIZE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE OTHER ORIGINAL TIRES NOR WILL THEY AUTHORIZE THE REPLACEMENTS TO BE OF THE SAME MFG AND STYLE AS THE ORIGINAL. I NEED SOME HELP IN GETTING THIS PROBLEM RESOLVED BEFORE WE HAVE AN ACCIDENT. *JB