Tire Failure-Update IV

Charlie D. wrote:
Trailer has been parked under it's cover since the return from the trip where the original tire failed. I noticed on the other side of the 5er that a tire appeared low. Pressure was down to 65 #'s from the normal 80. Took it off and saw a nail. Aired it back up and the tire appeared to have a crown running from side to side. Today I got around to taking it in to the Firestone dealer for repair and told the guy about the crown. Upon close inspection they told me that the tire had a manufacturing defect!!!!The tire showed a bulge and crack where the cap joined the side wall and ran at a diagonal across the tread where the rubber should have joined. I had the blown tire in the back of the truck and showed it to them. They said this tire would have eventually failed in the same way. What are the odds? Date is 4310. See the attached picture. Firestone said the defect was as the photo. I will move on but now I feel it is necessary to replace all 4 tires on the ground. The new BFG I purchased on my trip.will serve as a spare.

I will search the DOT web site and post my findings there.

Bombero-Thanks for the link. No Big O tire dealers around here but we do have Discount tires. Concerning warranty. The Firestone dealer said there is an additional $25. per tire for road hazard. Good for 5 years-Goodrich was 6-but a tire failure from manufacturing defects would fall back to the manufacturer and prorated and road hazard that destroyed the tire would cost $40.00 in fees for a new tire. Kind of a catch 22.

I would definitely forward the pictures of the failed tire as well as the one that's showing signs of failure, to BFG, "for their information in the interests of consumer safety". Mention that a tire professional at a national tire store confirmed what he was seeing on the unfailed tire exactly matches your tire failure. Don't ask for anything, but do mention that the new set of non-BFG tires as well as the repairs to the trailer cost $X.XX, again, for their information. Keep the old tires and let them know that you will keep them available for inspection "to improve consumer safety" at =your= convenience for a certain amount of time, after which you will dispose of them. Also send them the link to this thread. I do like your attitude and do appreciate you taking the time to be pretty informative without going off. Personally, I think I'd've simply filed an insurance claim and let =them= fight it out with the tire company while I went camping. :-)

Lyle