2005 Volkswagen Passat Tires & Wheels Problems

I WAS TRAVELING ON I-70 EAST 25 MILES EAST OF DENVER AT MILE MARKER 133, WITH THREE OF MY GRANDDAUGHTERS IN THE CAR WITH ME. I HEARD A NOISE AND IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO PULL TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER AND BRAKE WHEN THE CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL, SPINNING ME OUT TO THE LEFT ACROSS BOTH TRAFFIC LANES, TOOK ME IN A 360 DEGREE CIRCLE AND THEN INTO THE DITCH ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT WAS ONLY AN INSTANT FROM FIRST NOISE TO BEING SPUN OUT OF CONTROL - NO WARNING. BECAUSE I WAS SPUN OUT TO THE LEFT, I WAS NOT HIT BY THE SEMI DIRECTLY BEHIND ME. THE RIGHT REAR TIRE RAN AHEAD OF MY CAR FROM THE POINT WHERE I FIRST ATTEMPTED TO STOP. THERE WAS AN INCIDENT REPORT: COLORADO STATE PATROL #[XXX]. OFFICER ON SCENE EXAMINED TIRE AND SAID IT WAS AN "INSTANTANEOUS SEPARATION" OF TREAD FROM SIDEWALL AND POSSIBLY FAULTY TIRE MANUFACTURE. HE ALSO SAID WE SHOULD HAVE ROLLED BUT MY CAR'S LOW CENTER OF GRAVITY SAVED US. WE WERE UNHURT BUT TRAUMATIZED. THE TIRE WAS PURCHASED 1-30-14, 3-1/2 MONTHS PRIOR TO INCIDENT AND WAS IN LIKE-NEW CONDITION. PURCHASED FROM DISCOUNT TIRES ON LAKE MEAD IN LAS VEGAS, MANUFACTURED BY GT RADIAL, GITI TIRE (USA) LTD., 10404 SIXTH STREET, RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA 91730-5831, PHONE (909) 980-0968. CAR HAD BEEN COMPLETELY GONE OVER TWO DAYS BEFORE WHEN I DEPARTED ON TRIP, TIRE PRESSURE WAS CHECKED THE DAY BEFORE, AND A VISUAL CHECK WAS DONE BEFORE I GOT ON THE ROAD THAT DAY. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE TIRE WAS DAMAGED OR UNDERINFLATED IN ANY WAY. I BELIEVE UTTERLY THAT THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE AND AM CONSIDERING A LAWSUIT DESPITE FACT THAT WE WERE UNINJURED. THIS WAS A TERRIFYING EVENT AND ONE WHICH COULD HAVE TAKEN THE LIVES OF MY GRANDDAUGHTERS THROUGH NO FAULT OF MY OWN. THIS IS HAPPENING MORE AND MORE AND MFGRS ARE USING OLD "DRY" RUBBER AND/OR INEFFECTIVE ADHESIVE. I TRUST YOU WILL PURSUE THIS VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED WITH YOKOHAMA TIRES 8VID IN VIGOR 205/55/16. THE DOT NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE POPPED AND HE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED AAA FOR ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE TIRE SHOP WHERE THE TIRE WAS PURCHASED AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THEY HAVEN'T SEEN ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,269.

GOING HOME FROM WORK NEAR DUSK ON THE FREEWAY, MY CAR BEGAN TO VEER TO THE LEFT THEN THE RIGHT MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE CAR. I HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR (ONLY A YEAR AND A HALF OLD) SO I HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT COULD BE. I BEGAN TO GET VERY NERVOUS ESPECIALLY WITH TRAILER TRUCKS DRIVING NEAR ME. AS I BEGAN TO PULL OVER I HEARD A LOUD NOISE COME FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE. ONCE STOPPED, I QUICKLY WENT TO INSPECT THE PASSENGER SIDE WHERE I SAW THAT MY TIRE HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE TREAD. AT THIS POINT, I REALLY GOT SCARED JUST THINKING OF WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO ME IF I HAD COMPLETELY LOST CONTROL. THE GOOD THING IS THAT I AM USUALLY A SAFE DRIVER. I ASSUME THAT IF I WERE DRIVING IN EXCESS OF SPEED I WOULD NOT BE HERE NOW. AFTER TEN MINUTES OF RECOVERY, I PROCEEDED TO CHANGE THE TIRE. I WAS NEAR A SAM'S SO I DECIDED TO SEE IF I COULD HAVE SOMEONE LOOK AT THE TIRE AND HAVE IT CHANGED BUT IT WAS LATE (8 PM) AND THEY WERE CLOSED. *NM