1993 Ford E-150

I WAS DRIVING ON I-95 WHEN MY VEHICLE STARTED THUMPING AND VIBRATING ERRATICALLY AND STEERING WAS VERY HARD TO CONTROL. I EXITED IMMEDIATELY TO FIND THAT MY TIRE HAD A HUGE BULGE A LITTLE LARGER THAN A SOFTBALL. A MAN STOPPED AND SAID I SHOULD BE OKAY TO DRIVE THE 2 MILES I HAD LEFT TO GET HOME. WHEN I BACKED OUT TO DRIVE HOME THE BULGE POPPED EXPOSING BROKEN PLY CORDS AND TREAD SEPARATION.

I WAS DRIVING EAST, JUST PAST MONROE, LA, ON I-20 JUST PRIOR TO MILE MARKER 126 WHEN THE RIGHT PASSENGER TIRE CAME OFF MY E150 1993 FORD VAN. I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VAN TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD. THANKFULLY, THE RIM/TIRE, AND BRAKE CALIPER DID NOT HIT A VEHICLE; I FOUND IT ABOUT A HALF MILE PRIOR TO WHERE I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VAN STOPPED. I THOUGHT I A BLOWOUT HAD OCCURRED BUT WHEN I LOOKED, THERE WAS NO RIM OR TIRE ON THE VAN. I BOUGHT THE VAN NEW IN LATE 1992 AND HAVE MAINTAINED IT WELL THROUGHOUT ITS LIFETIME. HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN? JUST PRIOR TO GETTING TO MONROE, THERE WAS A WOBBLE IN THE STEERING LIKE A BIG GUST OF WIND HAD HIT IT OR I HAD STRUCK A RECAP. I GOT OUT AND CHECKED BUT FOUND NOTHING UNUSUAL. I DROVE ON TO MONROE AND ATE LUNCH AT CHILI'S. SHORTLY AFTER GETTING BACK ON I-20 IS WHEN THIS EPISODE HAPPENED. A LOT OF PEOPLE COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED OR KILLED. WEATHER WAS CLEAR WITH LIGHT BREEZE AND NO RAIN. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME. THE VAN WAS TOWED BY AAA BY BEARS TO HIXSON FORD IN MONROE, LA FOR REPAIR WHERE IT IS NOW WAITING. THE WHEEL WELL, PASSENGER DOOR AND VARIOUS TRIM ITEMS WERE ALSO DAMAGE DUE TO THE WHEEL COMING OFF AND HAVING IT TOWED. *TR

LEFT MEMPHIS, TN FOR OUT OF TOWN TRIP ON 4/12/01. ALL FOUR TIRES ROTATED AND BALANCED BY LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER 5 DAYS BEFORE TRIP (ERIC PH 901-323-2627). STAYED MURPHREESBORO, TN OVERNIGHT. STARTED DRIVING 9AM 4/13/01, GOT TO MONTEAGLE, TN GOING UP HILL, THUMP, THUMP, THUMP. LOOKED - PEACH SIZE BULGE, INSIDE RIGHT FRONT TIRE, AT POINT WHERE SIDE WALL MEETS TREAD. PUT FOUR NEW TIRES ON AT MONTEAGLE DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. GOT BACK TO MEMPHIS, LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER, ERIC, CONFIRMED TREAD SEPARATION AS DID INDEPENDENT TIRE DEALER, GATEWAY TIRE. LOCAL DEALER OFFERED CREDIT FOR UNUSED TREAD TOWARD PURCHASE OF ONE REPLACEMENT TIRE. I DECLINED OFFER. CALLED FIRESTONE RECALL HOTLINE, PH 800-465-1904, 04/16/01, EXPLAINED PROBLEM, MY TIRES P235/75R15 105S MTS, DOT # VDHL AWR 447, WILDERNESS HT, WOMAN SAID NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE TIRE NOT ON RECALL LIST. I ASKED IF SHE WANTED MY NAME, ADDRESS AND INFORMATION SO THEY COULD CONTACT ME IF NEEDED OR TO REPORT PROBLEM AND SHE SAID NO. PLEASE CALL, WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT TO DO NEXT, WOULD BE HAPPY TO DISCUSS IN FURTHER DETAIL. I STILL HAVE ALL FOUR TIRES.*AK (DOT NUMBER: VDHLAWR447 TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

TIRE TREAD CAME COMPLETELY OFF TIRE. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY STOP VEHICLE. FIRESTONE DEALER IN AURORA COLORADO, STORE # 028924 TOLD ME THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE MANUFACTURED AT THE DECATOR PLANT. THEY TREATED THIS LIKE A RECALL AND REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES AT NO COST WITH GENERAL TIRES. THE FIRST TIRE TO DO EXACTLY THE SAME THING UNDER IDENTICAL CIRCUMSTANCES LOST ITS TREAD ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO, PRIOR TO PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION AT DECATOR PLANT. SECOND TIRE CAME APART IN WYOMING. I MADE THIS REPORT THINKING THAT THE PROBLEMS AT DECATOR MIGHT EXTEND BEYOND THE TIRES CURRENTLY IDENTIFIED, AS THE AFFINITY TIRES ARE NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. THANKS. DAVE ASHTON( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75R15 )