Tire Sidewall problems of the 2001 Mazda Tribute

While traveling on a clean, smooth highway at about 60 mph with one driver and unloaded, rear passenger side tire experienced blow out in middle of sidewall. The tire was shown to a local dealer for warranty replacement. The dealer initially refused to replace the tire, claimed that the problem was caused by a road hazard, that tires don't just explode. The dealer ultimately replaced the tire but did not admit to any tire defect. (dot number: w208 awm tiresize: p235/70r16).

On October 12, 2001, I was traveling north on interstate 95 through north carolina in my mazada Tribute 2001. This was a sunny day so the road was dry and I was traveling 70 mph with cruise control. I was approaching the exits for the rocky mount area when my entire car started shaking furiously. Then the whole left side of my car seemed to suddenly drop. I immeadiately pulled over. When I got out of the car to take a look, I noticed that it was not just a flat, but that the entire tread had seperated from the sidewalls. I took the tire into a firestone dealer where they proceeded to tell me that tires always respond this way when they go flat and charged me for a new tire. They did not seem concerned at all. After they had finished replacing the tire, I asked for the original tire which they told me was already destroyed and that I could not have it back. This was a wilderness ht p235/70r16 but when firestone replaced it they used a wilderness ht ii. (tiresize: p235/70r16).

There were 2 separate tire defects that after goin from 1 Mazda dealer to 1 firestone dealer back to a second Mazda dealer then finally had the problem tire replaced fee of charge by a second firestone dealer. The defective tire first dropped a 2inch by 2inch section of tread right off of the tire. It was located on the inside tread section and only in one spot. While I waited for the replacement tire to be ordered and received and guaranteed by the firestone dealer(2210 w ridge rd rochester NY 14626)that the tire was safe to drive on and no other problems should arise the tire began to rip along a seam on the sidewall directly opposite from the missing section of tread. This obviously could of lead to a tire failure or worse. The dealer appologized and quickly replaced the tire with a similiar tire except the new one has white outlined letters as per firestone dealer originals don't and they are only avalable from the Mazda/Ford factory???? (dot number: 0211224 tiresize: p235/70r16).