Tire Sidewall problems of the 1999 Mercury Cougar

Tire blewout sidewall after less than 10 minutes of driving. Vehicle recently serviced at a Lincoln Mercury dealership tires were inspected and determined to be in good condition. (tiresize: 215/50/16).

Tread completely separated from sidewalls. Only sidewalls remained on wheel. Dealer indicated that there was a hole in the tread but unclear whether hole occurred before or after separation. Do not have tire but have pictures. Also, service manager, nick caldaron inspected tire. Am concerned because I have 4 similar tires on car now. ( dot number: tire size: p215r1689 ).

Consumer was traveling about 30mph on highway and hit a small pothole in the road. Tire sidewall splitted, like someone had cut the tire. This happened a year ago traveling about 50mph on the highway, and a chunk of the tire sidewall simply exploded with no contact at all. Firestone firehawk #gta02, size 215/50/16. Dealership and firestone has been notified.

Purchased car new, in 57000 miles we have had to replace, 2 alternators, 1 starter, 2 batteries, entire rack and pinion, power steering pump, transmission torque converter, 4 set of brakes, 4 sets of tires plus two individual tires all with sidewall blow outs except one puncture and 2 headlight switches, 2 cig lighters. The entire upper engine gasket set had to be replaced to get to an intake leak. The head lights and foglights work itermittantly, engine warning lights are constantly going on and off. Currently one headlight is out (lamp is good) fog lights are not working (today) and an engine warning light is indicating a problem again.

The vehicles rear tire was flat, the front tire was going flat and the passenger side tires were all low, upon closer examination the sidewalls on all 4 tires had a split in the rubber that was perfectly circular and on the flattest tire the rubber had split and was gaping open. The separation is thin and smooth-edged not torn(firestone firehawk gta,p205/55r16).

The vehicles rear tire was flat, the front tire was going flat and the passenger side tires were all low, upon closer examination the sidewalls on all 4 tires had a split in the rubber that was perfectly circular and on the flattest tire the rubber had split and was gaping open. The separation is thin and smooth-edged not torn(firestone firehawk gta,p205/55r16).

The vehicles rear tire was flat, the front tire was going flat and the passenger side tires were all low, upon closer examination the sidewalls on all 4 tires had a split in the rubber that was perfectly circular and on the flattest tire the rubber had split and was gaping open. The separation is thin and smooth-edged not torn(firestone firehawk gta,p205/55r16).