1994 GMC Sierra

DT: CONSUMER OWNS A GMC SIERRA 1994. HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SPARE TIRE MOUNT. VEHICLE HAD A CABLE THAT HELD THE SPARE TIRE IN PLACE. THE SPARE TIRE CAME OFF THE VEHICLE, AND CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW WHERE IT MAY HAVE COME LOOSE . CONSUMER NOTICED SPARE WAS GONE ABOUT JULY 17, 2005. THEN, CONSUMER CHECKED THE SPARE MOUNTING DEVICE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE CABLE BROKE DUE TO RUST. CABLE LOOKED AS IF IT RUSTED T AND FAILED. ALSO, CONSUMER OWNED A 1989 GMC PICKUP WHICH HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. CONSUMER NOTICED SPARE TIRE MISSING ON 1994. THEN CHECKED AND FOUND THAT 1989 VEHICLE ALSO HAD SPARE TIRE, AND CABLE RUSTED AND BROKE. CONSUMER'S SON HAD A 1993 GMC WITH THE SAME TIRE MOUNTING DEVICE FOUND THAT SPARE TIRE WAS AND CABLE RUSTED AND BROKE OFF. CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW WHERE ANY OF THE VEHICLES LOST THE SPARE TIRES, OR HOW LONG THEY HAVE BEEN MISSING. CONSUMER ONLY DROVE ON BLACK TOP ROADS, AND DID NOT USE VEHICLE OFF ROAD. ALSO, CONSUMER HAD A 2002 ENVOY WHICH HAD THE SAME MOUNTING SYSTEM FOR THE SPARE, AND WAS CONCERNED THAT THIS PROBLEM MAY OCCUR WITH ENVOY AS WELL.*AK SPARE TIRE MOUNTING CABLE ASSEMBLY REUST OUT. *TT

I PURCHASED 4 BRAND NEW PIRELLI DESERT DOG TIRES FROM SAM'S ABOUT 9/17/98. ONE OF THE TIRES WAS ACTING ODD WITH A BUMPING SOUND CAUSED BY AN EGG IN THE TIRE OR THE TREAD BEING PARTIALLY SEPARATED. THE DEFECTIVE PIRELLI DESERT DOG TIRE WAS EXCHANGED AT SAM'S ABOUT 9/18 OR 19/98 BY SAM'S WITHOUT QUESTIONS AND IT WAS BELIEVED TO BE DEFECTIVE. THE PIRELLI DESERT DOG TIRE ON MY PASSENGER REAR SIDE OF MY GMC PICKUP THAT HAD THE TREAD SEPARATE FROM THE TIRE ON HWY 90 AT 70 MPH MADE NOISE JUST LIKE THE OTHER DEFECTIVE TIRE JUST BEFORE IT SEPARATED. THE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM ABOUT HALF OF THE TIRE AND THE TIRE REMAINED INFLATED. WHEN THE TREAD SEPARATED IT BEAT UP AND DAMAGED MY PASSENGER REAR FENDER, UNDER SIDE OF MY BED, MY BUMPER AND MY EXHAUST TAIL PIPE. WHEN THE TIRE SEPARATED IT CAUSED MY TRUCK TO SWERVE RIGHT AND LEFT VIOLENTLY AND ALMOST CAUSED MY PICKUP TO FLIP OVER. MY WIFE AND I WERE SERIOUSLY SHAKEN, STOPPED THE VEHICLE, CHECKED WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND THANKED GOD WE WERE NOT INJURED OR KILLED. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH THE SPARE AND WE CONTINUED TO NEW ORLEANS, LA. THE TRUCK HAD NOTHING IN THE BED BUT WE WERE TOWING A TRAILER WITH NOTHING IN OR ON IT. I BELIEVE THAT THE TRAILER HELPED IN PREVENTING THE OVERTURNING OF MY PICKUP BY KEEPING THE REAR END OF MY PICKUP FROM SWERVING MORE VIOLENTLY THAN IT DID. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO SAM'S AND THEY INDICATED IT WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT, I CONTACTED PIRELLI, SENT THE TIRE WITH ESTIMATED DAMAGES BUT PIRELLI REPORTED THAT THE TIRE WAS NOT DEFECTIVE. AFTER VIEWING THE FILM ON THE TIRES BEING INVESTIGATED BY CONGRESS, I FELT IT NECESSARY TO REPORT THE SITUATION THAT I HAVE HAD WITH THESE PIRELLI DESERT DOG TIRES. MY VEHICLE REACTED EXACTLY LIKE THOSE ON THE VIDEO SEEN ON TV WHEN THE TREAD SEPARATED. NEITHER SAM'S OR PIRELLI ARE WILLING TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE OR REPLACE MY TIRE SO I HAVE HAD TO GO TO MY OWN INSURANCE CARRIER TO GET MY VEHICLE REPAIRED. PLEASE HELP IN REPORTING THIS SAFETY HAZARD.