2002 GMC Sierra Tires & Wheels Problems

DRIVING 73 MPH DOWN HIGHWAY WITHOUT WARNING TREAD BLOWS OFF TIRE. ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE. TIRES WERE PURCHASED NEW AND MAINTAINED AND HAD PLENTLY TIRE LEFT. UNIROYAL ADVISED THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR TIRE THAT WAS 7 YEARS OLD.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WHEELS WERE JAMMED IN A POSITION THAT CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC 2500 HD PICKUP. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN LTX/MS TIRES, TIRE SIZE 265/75/16 (N/A). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, A LOUD NOISE SOUNDED FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SHOULDER WHERE HE NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE EXPLODED. THE DEFECTIVE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH THE SPARE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE CENTER WHERE TWO NEW TIRES WERE MOUNTED ONTO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,828.

MY HERCULES TERRA TRAC A/T 245 70 16 ARE SHREDDING NEAR THE SIDEWALL. THE 17 INCH VERSION OF MY TIRES WERE RECALLED BUT THE 16 INCH WAS NEVER RECALLED. HERCULES DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE TIRE SAYING THAT I POSSIBLY HIT A CURB. *TR

FIRESTONE LT245/75-R16. REAR TIRE BLEW OUT AT 70 MPH. ENTIRE TREAD FLEW OFF TIRE. MANAGED TO GET VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER AND CHANGE THE TIRE. REAR QUARTER OF TRUCK WAS PUSHED IN BY THE TIRE. TIRE MARKS ALL OVER THE REAR QUARTER AND BUMPER. ANOTHER REAR TIRE BLEW IN JUNE OF 2002. NO WARRANTY OFFERED BY DEALER OR FIRESTONE FOR ORIGINAL TIRES. *TR

FIRESTONE LT245/75-R16 STEELTEX RADIAL A/T TREAD SEPARATED AT 55 MPH. TWO ESTIMATES OF DAMAGE TO VEHICLE, APPROXIMATELY $3,700. SENT TIRE TO FIRESTONE WHO DENIED LIABILITY. ATTRIBUTED TREAD SEPARATION TO "OVER DEFLEXION". *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 GMC SIERRA 2500 HD. THE VEHICLE HAS FIRESTONE RADIAL, SIZE LT/245/75/R16 TIRES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HE NOTICED THAT THE TREAD COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE TIRE. PRIOR TO DRIVING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS NORMAL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE NOT DEFECTIVE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APROX. 40,000. UPDATED 02-19-08 *BF UPDATED 02/14/08 *TR

THERE WAS NO EVENT THAT WAS NOTED THAT WOULD CAUSE THE SEPARATION OF THE TIRE TREAD FROM THE SIDEWALL. A MAJOR LEAK WAS NOTED. THE SPLIT WAS LOCATED AT THE POINT OF SIDEWALL TO TREAD JOINT. THE TIRE HAS >9/32 OF TREAD LEFT ON THE TIRE. I AM AT A LOSS TO REPLACE THE TIRE. NO TRAUMA WAS INFLICTED ON THE TIRE. *NM

I HAVE A 2002 GMC SIERRA 1500 EXTENDED CAB TRUCK WITH FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES WHICH CAME WITH THE VEHICLE. ABOUT 12:15 AM I WAS DRIVING EASTBOUND ON I-70 JUST WEST OF JUNCTION CITY WHEN I HEARD A LOUD SOUND FROM THE REAR OF MY TRUCK, AND WAS BARELY ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. AT THIS POINT IT WAS ABOUT 85F, BUT FOR A GOOD PART OF THE DAY I HAD BEEN DRIVING IN 100+F HEAT (SINCE ABOUT 5 PM, WITH A BREAK IN DRIVING FROM ABOUT 8:30 PM TO 10:30 PM). I PULLED OVER, AND FOUND THAT THE TREADS FROM MY LEFT REAR TIRE HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALL. I PUT THE SPARE TIRE ON AND DROVE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME (ABOUT 150 MILES). RIGHT NOW MY TIRE IS IN 3 PIECES: 2 SIDEWALLS STILL ON THE RIM, AND THE TREAD IS A SEPARATE PIECE, STILL IN A COMPLETE CIRCLE. FORTUNATELY I THINK THE DAMAGE IS LIMITED TO THE TIRE (WHICH MEANS I'M GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES), AND POSSIBLY THE RIM OF THE ONE TIRE. RIGHT NOW I HAVE ALL THE PARTS, AND WILL TRY AND KEEP THEM WHEN I HAVE THE TIRES REPLACED.

TIRES WARPING. MAKING TRUCK BOUNCE WHILE DRIVING. *TR

SEE ATTACHED MEMORANDUM DATE JUNE 3, 2005 MEMO #06032005-1 FOR ITEMS (1), (2), AND (3) FOR ITEM (3) PARTS ON GMC TRUCK STILL EXIST AND ARE CURRENTLY SECURED ONLY BY A TIGHTENED WIRE HELD IN POSITION BY TURN STYLE TORQUE SYSTEM. DEFECTIVE SPARE TIRE ASSEMBLY BRACKET HOLD DOWN AND RELEASE SYSTEM. SYSTEM DESIGN PROVIDES FOR A POTENTIAL ROAD HAZARD SHOULD THE WIRE ASSEMBLY HOLD DOWN WIRE BECOMES CUT OR BROKEN WHEN AUTOMOBILE IS IN MOTION ON ANY HIGHWAY OPERATION. EXISTING PROBLEM DISCOVERED BY AAA SERVICE MAINTENANCE REPAIR SERVICE TO PUT 2002 GMC SIERRA TRUCK [XXX] BACK INTO OPERATION AFTER HIGHWAY TIRE FAILURE ON MAJOR I5 HIGHWAY IN OCEANSIDE CALIFORNIA. DAMAGE TO TIRES RESULTED IN RUPTURE OF LEFT REAR TIRE MANUFACTURED BY GENERAL TIRE. DEFECTIVE TIRE WAS RETAINED BY SEARS REPAIR SERVICE, LAGUNA HILLS, CALIFORNIA. *JB *SC INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 265 75 R16 TREADBELT CAME COMPLETELY OFF WHILE DRIVING. TIES ONLY HAVE 31XXX ON THEM. TIRE HAVE BEEN ROTATED EVERY 5000 MILES AND INFALTED TO MANUFACTURES SPECS. I WILL TAKE PICTURES TONIGHT OF THE DAMAGE AND TIRE.*AK

A FIRESTONE STEELTEX AT (245-75 R16 LR E) MOUNTED ON THE LR OF MY 2002 GMC SIERRA 2500HD FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON HIWAY 58 IN THE VICINITY OF TEHACHEPI CA AT APPROX 1630 HRS. THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALL/BODY OF THE TIRE EXPOSING STEELBELTS. THE TREAD WAS NOT RECOVERABLE. THE FAILED TIRE DID NOT EXPLODE OR DISINTEGRATE AND REMAINED INFLATED. THE TIRE HAD ACCUMULATED 32650 MILES SINCE NEW (OEM TIRE) WITHOUT INCIDENT. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE INFLATED TO 75PSI AT 0630 AM THAT MORNING IN VACAVILLE CA, AND CHECKED IN BAKERFIELD DURING A FUEL STOP. ALL TIRES WERE WITHIN 1 LB OF ANOTHER AND REGISTERED 84 PSI (WARM INFLATION PRESSURE). CONTACT WITH FIRESTONE INDICATED THAT THE TIRE SHOULD BE INSPECTED BY FIRESTONE ENGINEERS TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE WAS SHIPPED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR INSTRUCTIONS. FIRESTONE ENGINEERS CONCLUDED THAT THE TIRE WAS "OPERATED FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AT A PRESSURE INSUFFICIENT FOR THE LOAD BEING CARRIED". THE LOAD ON THE TIRE WAS ESTIMATED NOT TO EXCEED 2500 LBS. THE FAILED TIRE RETAINED NEARLY 70 PSI WHEN CHECKED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FAILURE DESPITE A SMALL LEAK FROM THE SEPARATION. THE TIRE WAS NOT DAMAGED BY ROAD HAZARDS OR OTHERWISE SUBJECTED TO NEGLECT. ALL TIRES WERE ROUTINELY ROTATED AT 7500 MILES INTERVALS AND MOST RECENTLY ROTATED AT 30000 MILES. FIRESTONE HAS BEEN ASKED TO PROVIDE SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THEIR ASSERTION THAT THE TIRE WAS NOT DEFECTIVE BUT HAS FAILED TO DO SO. I HAVE RETAINED ALL FOUR TIRES AND WILL PROVIDE THEM FOR INDEPENDENT INSPECTION. I HAVE MADE ONE FINAL REQUEST FOR INFORMATION REGARDING THE METHOD OF INSPECTION AND THE DOCUMENTATION OF THOSE RESULTS. I HAVE HEARD NOTHING FROMFIRESTONE AS OF 26 FEB 04. THE DEALERSHIP ON RECORD AS SELLING THE VEHICLE/TIRES INSISTED WITHOUT HESITATION THE TIRE FAILED DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *AK

I HAD TO PURCHASE FOUR NEW TIRES FOR MY 2002 GMC SIERRA ON 10/2/03. FIRESTONE IN MARTINSBURG, WV ADVISED ME THAT MY TRUCK TIRES THAT GM PLACED ON THE TRUCK THAT WAS ORDERED NEW WERE NOT SUITABLE FOR THE WEIGHT OF THE TRUCK. THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRES WERE VERY WEAK. I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE ARE OTHER TRUCKS OUT THERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I WENT TO THE DEALER WHO WILL NOT ASSIST ME WITH THIS ISSUE. I SINCERELY HOPE THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. CAN YOU INVESTIGATE AND MAKE SURE THE PROBLEM IS RESOLVED IF THIS IS NOT JUST AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. *LA *TR

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH REAR RIGHT TIRE BLEW OUT. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL VEHICLE OVER, AND STOPPED TO CHECK THE TIRE. NOTICED THAT TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. BRIDGESTONE TIRE, SIZE 285/75R16. *AK

I HAVE CARLISLE SURE TRAIL ST TIRES, SIZE ST 205/75D15, ON MY 2003 BIG TEX 60CH TRAILER. THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT FOR NO APPARENT REASON AT FREEWAY SPEEDS AND A LIGHT LOAD ON THE TRAILER. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE TIRES THAT WERE INSTALLE ON THIS TRAILER AT TIME OF PURCHASE, I HAVE REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES, DUE TO THE ONE BLOWOUT, AND VERY SEVERE CROWNING IN THE CENTER OF THE TREAD AT THE PROPER COLD INFLATION PRESSURE OF 35PSI, THIS CROWNING OF THE TREAD ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE AN OVER-INFLATED TIRE, WHEN IN FACT IT IS PROBEBLY A SEPARATION INSIDE THE TIRE. THE DOT NUMBERS ARE AS FOLLOWS: UUUL SCB0103 UUUL SCB0103 UUUL SCB0103 8LUL 0703 THE ODD NUMBERED TIRE IS THE TIRE THAT BLEW OUT AND HAD PRINTED IN THE BEAD AREA THAT IT WAS MANUFACTURED IN TRINIDAD. BY THE TIME I COULD GET THE TRAILER OFF THE FREEWAY THE BLOW-OUT WAS SMOKING.*AK

DEALER HAS REPLACED GENERAL, AMERI-TECH TIRES SIZE 25570R16, THREE TIMES BECAUSE THEY WOULD NOT BALANCE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WAS STILL VIBRATION OF TIRES AFTER THEY WERE REPLACED AND BALANCED BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE POOR QUALITY. *YH

VIBRATION IN DRIVE TRAIN BEFORE AND AFTER REPLACEMENT OF DRIVESHAFT,NOISE IN FRONT END,POSSIBLE DEFECTIVE TIRES. *AK

CAST IRON WHEEL MOUNT FAILED. *MR *SCC *NLM

THE VEHICLE TIRE PRESSURE WAS 38-40 PSI IN ALL FOUR TIRES. THE PROPER PSI SHOULD BE 60-PSI FRONT 80-PSI REAR. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS INCORRECT IN ALL FOUR TIRES. *YH