SUDDEN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION WHILE WAITING FOR THE STOP LIGHT TO TURN GREEN. TT
1996
TIRES
THESE 2 TIRE FAILURES OCCURRED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CIRUCUMSTANCES ON A VEHICLE THAT IS REGULARLY MAINTAINED AT THE FIRESTONE SERVICE CENTER THAT INSTALLED THE TIRES. FIRESTONE HAS DENIED CLAIM OF VEHICLE REPAIR FROM THE TIRE SEPARATION INCIDENT ON JUNE 16, 2002, SAYING THE 'TIRE WAS IMPROPERLY INFLATED FOR AN UNDETERMINED TIME PERIOD'. THEIR OWN PEOPLE INSPECTED THE TIRES 40 DAYS PRIOR, THE TIME OF THE 1ST TIRE SEPARATION, CLAIMING TIRES TO BE WORTHY, PROPERLY INFLATED ETC. WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT AN INVESTIGATION INTO THESE TIRES MUST HAPPEN, IF IT ISNT ALREADY UNDERWAY. THIS WAS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT FORTUNATELY DID NOT END TRAGICALLY, OTHER THAN DOLLARS SPENT OUT OF OUR POCKET. PLEASE TAKE SERIOUS NOTE TO OUR CIRCUMSTANCE, IT CAN NOT BE COMMON OF TIRES THAT 2 WOULD SEPARATE IN 40 DAYS ON A REGULARLY MAINTAINED VEHICLE ON A CLEAR HIGHWAY AND SPEEDS UNDER NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED LIMITS. AFTER THE FIRST TIRE FAILURE, THE SERVICE CENTER MANAGER STATED THAT THE 'TIRE HAD SEPARATED AND FAILED'. AFTER THE SECOND SEPARATION, THE SAME MANAGER HAD THE SAME STATEMENT FOR THE SECOND TIRE. THEY ULTIMATELY WERE WILLING TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES WITH A BRIDGESTONE PRODUCT, FOR US, THAT WAS UNACCEPTABLE, WE CHOOSE TO TAKE OUR BUSINESS ELSEWHERE (CLEARLY, NOT AN ISSUE FOR THE NHTSA). THOUGH, WHAT IS OF GREAT CONCERN TO US IS THE LACK OF URGENCY ON THE PART OF LOCAL FIRESTONE AND CORPORATE FIRESTONE THAT THERE COULD POTENTIALLY BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH A PRODUCT THEY SELL.THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE, AND YOUR CONSIDERATION.*AK