TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE EQUIPPED WITH BRIDGESTONE DUELER H/L ALENZA TIRES. THE TIRE SIZE WAS 285/45/22. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 55-60 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE SUDDENLY EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE DEFECTIVE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH THE SPARE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY OFFERED TO REPLACE THE TIRE. THE CONTACT REFUSED TO HAVE THE TIRE REPLACED DUE TO THE TIRE MANUFACTURER SAFETY ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,500. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 02/07/11 *BF UPDATED 02/11/11
2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
NEWER MODELS OF VEHICLES SUCH AS THE CADILLAC ESCALADE, CADILLAC STS, BMW, NISSAN AND OTHER VEHICLES INCORPORATE LED (LIGHT EMITTING DIODE) TAIL AND BRAKE LIGHTS. IN SOME MODELS, THESE LED LAMPS ARE STROBED OR PULSED AT A RATE TO EFFECT A CHANGE IN BRIGHTNESS BETWEEN TAILLIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT INDICATIONS. THE STROBING EFFECT IS VERY DISTRACTING WHEN FOLLOWING THE VEHICLE ON BUMPY ROADS OR WHEN VISUALLY SCANNING THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING. THE STROBING EFFECT MAY CAUSE ACCIDENTS BY DRIVERS FOLLOWING SUCH EQUIPPED VEHICLES AND FIXATING ON THE STROBING TAIL LIGHTS. I RECOMMEND THE ESTABLISHMENTS OF FEDERAL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS INCREASING THE STROBING RATE OF SUCH TAIL LIGHTS SUCH THAT THE VISUAL DISTRACTION CAUSED BY THE SLOW STROBE LIGHT EFFECT IS MINIMIZED. IN PARTICULAR, I FIND SUCH LIGHTS VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE BEHIND. MY EYES ARE MORE SENSITIVE TO THE STROBING EFFECT THAN OTHERS. I SUSPECT I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS SENSITIVITY. *NM