WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH THE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. I SLOWED DOWN AND PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND DISCOVERED A LARGE BULGE ON THE TREAD AND SIDEWALL OF ONE OF MY TIRES. IT APPEARD THAT THE BELT WAS STARTING TO SEPERATE INTERNALLY BUT HAD NOT RUPTURED THROUGH THE EXTERIOR YET. IT WAS A VERY HOT DAY, IN THE UPPER 90'S. I HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES WHEN THIS OCCURED. THE DAMAGE WAS SO SEVERE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFELY DRIVEABLE. I CHANGED THE TIRE AND STILL HAVE THE DEFECTIVE ONE. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE. THE ONLY NUMBER THAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THROUGH ON IS THE RECALL LINE. THEY TOLD ME THAT MY TIRE WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST SO THEY PROVIDED 2 CONSUMER AFFAIRS PHONE NUMBERS. ONE OF THE NUMBERS IS DISCONNECTED AND THE OTHER CAN NOT BE REACHED FROM MY CALLING AREA. I CALLED FIRESTONE BACK AND THEY COULD ASSIST ME. THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I CALL INFORMATION TO GET THEIR PHONE NUMBER.( DOT NUMBER: ? TIRE SIZE: L245/75R16 )
1997
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, TREAD SEPARATED FROM LEFT REAR TIRE. FIRESTONE CONTACTED. FIRESTONE STEELTEX LT 245 75R16. DOT VN11B1A377. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT FOR A 1997, GMC, SUBURBAN. *AK *TT