BRIDGESTONE POTENZA TIRES Complaints

WE WERE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 14 AT ABOUT 9 PM WHEN WE HEARD (AND FELT) A LOUD BANG AND THEN FELT THE NOTICEABLE BUMPINESS OF A FLAT TIRE. WE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE TO FIND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE FLAT, WHICH WE PROCEEDED TO CHANGE WITH THE SPARE THAT WAS SUPPLIED WITH THE CAR. THE CAR IS A 2007 SUBARU IMPREZA AND IS ACTUALLY A LOANER FROM THE DEALER SINCE MY CAR IS IN THE SHOP, BEING REPAIRED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM FOR THE 8TH TIME IN 2 YEARS (SEPARATE COMPLAINT). UPON INSPECTING THE TIRE THE NEXT DAY, IT'S EVIDENT THAT IT IS A BLOWOUT AS IT HAS A 4 INCH SLIT IN THE SIDEWALL AND THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE ROAD THAT WE DROVE OVER. I HAVE NOT HAD THE TIRE REPLACED YET BUT THE DEALER IS ASSERTING THAT I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TIRE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT MY CAR. THEY DID, HOWEVER, OFFER TO SELL ME THE TIRE AT THEIR COST WITH FREE INSTALLATION. I PLAN ON KEEPING THE TIRE WHEN I DO GET IT REPLACED, SINCE I'M PAYING FOR IT. I WILL BE CONTACTING BRIDGESTONE HEADQUARTERS AND SUBARU HEADQUARTERS IN NEW JERSEY ABOUT THIS INCIDENT. TIRE IS A BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RE 92A, SIZE P205/55R16 89V DOT EM8K JLL2407. *TR

NEED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF A DEFECTIVE BRIDGESTONE TIRE (RSC-RE050A-245/40R18-93W) BRIDGESTONE POTENZA TIRE WITH 25K MILES DAMAGE ORIGINALLY REPORTED AT 23,000 MILES. TIRE HAS BUSTED RADIAL BELT AND IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. COMPANY ADVISES SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR IN MAY 08 AS A USED VEHICLE FROM CARMAX THE TIRE WARRANTY IS ONLY COVERED WITH THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. I NEED TO KNOW IF THIS IS IN FACT CORRECT. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE WARRANTY FOR THE TIRE? IS THAT NOT TRANSFERABLE WITH THE CAR? CARMAX IS GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND SAYING THE TIRES ARE COVERED UNDER THE BRIDGESTONE WARRANTY. PLEASE ADVISE WHAT MY RIGHTS ARE ASAP. I AM RIDING AROUND ON THIS TIRE NOT KNOWING WHEN IT IS GOING TO BLOW OUT ON ME. THANK YOU, DORSELL WILLIAMS *TR

THE TIRES IN QUESTION WHERE PURCHASE IN JULY 2007. APPROXIMATE MILEAGE SINCE INSTALLATION 2200. TRAVELING WEST ON I80/94 IN NORTHERN INDIANA 3 MILES THIS SIDE OF ILLINOIS STATE LINE. I NOTICE AFTER PASSING EXIT 3/CLINE AVENUE, THAT THE ROAD WAY STARTED TO SOUND LIKE A "BUCK BOARD" ROAD SURFACE. SINCE I WAS IN THE FAR LANE I STARTED TO MOVE OVER TO EXIT ONTO KENNEDY AVE OFF RAMP AND DROVE INTO A PARKING LOT AND STEPPED OUT TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON . I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT THE "LEFT REAR TIRE" ON MY CORVETTE SEEMED LIKE IT WAS GOING FLAT. I SAW A SERVICE STATION UP THE STREET SO I DECIDED TO SEE IF I COULD DRIVE TO IT AND SEE IF ANYONE MIGHT BE ABLE TO OFFER US ASSISTANCE. AS IT WAS THEY COULDN'T. I LOOKED AT THE TIRE AGAIN AND FELT THERE WAS ENOUGH AIR IN THE TIRE TO GET US TO A DEALERSHIP OR TIRE STORE. WHILE WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE AT THE INTERSECTION UPON EXITING THE SERVICE STATION WE HEARD A LOUD "BANG". I DROVE INTO A PARKING LOT ACROSS FROM THE SERVICE STATION AND PARKED THE CAR. IT WAS NOW AROUND 5:00PM. THE YOUNG WAS JUST GETTING OFF WORK FROM HIS JOB WITH "BERTS TOWING, INC". THE HAD HIM TOW THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP 'BILL JACOBS" IN THE JOILIET IL. THE DEALERSHIP GOT THE CAR INTO THEIR BODY SHOP AND "NOTICE" THAT THE "INSIDE" SIDE WALL HAD SEPARATED' WHICH CASED THE TIRE TO CRACK THE WHEEL. FOR HE NEXT THREE WEEKS THE DEALERSHIP TRIED TO GET A REPLACEMENT WHEEL, BUT COULDN'T FIND ONE SO WE PURCHASED A WHEEL SO I COULD MOVED THE CAR THE BILL AT THIS POINT WAS AROUND $950.00 DOLLARS PLUS IT WOULD COST AN ADDITIONAL $1212.00 FOR A NEW WHEEL FROM GM FOR A TOTAL AROUND $2150.00. I CONTACTED BRIDGESTONE/FIRESTONE ON SEPTEMBER 8TH WITH THEIR CLAIM REPORT NO. 842571. YESTERDAY I RECEIVED A LETTER REF. NO. 919077 THEY REJECTED THE CLAIM DO TO "THIS TIRE WAS OPERATED FOR AN UNKNOWN PERIOD OF TIME WITH INSUFFICIENT AIR PRESSURE. WAS I SUPPOSE TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

2005 PONTIAC GTO WITH 18" PERFORMANCE TIRE/WHEEL PACKAGE. PREMATURE SUSPENSION BUSHING WEAR CAUSING PREMATURE TIRE WEAR AND ALIGNMENT ISSUES IN ONLY 14,000 MILES. TIRES ARE COMPLETELY WORN OUT ON THE INNER EDGE IN 14,000 MILES. FORTUNATELY, I CAUGHT THIS BEFORE THEIR WAS A BLOW OUT OF A STEERING AXLE TIRE WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND POSSIBLY A MVA. EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A WIDELY KNOWN PROBLEM GM HAS NOT ADDRESSED IT AND THE DEALERSHIP IS UNRESPONSIVE. FORTUNATELY THIS VEHICLE HAS THE 18" TIRE PACKAGE OR THE TIRE SIDE WALL WOULD BE RUBBING ON THE STRUT AS THEY DO ON THE VEHICLES WITH THE "STANDARD" 17" TIRE/WHEEL PACKAGE. *TR

THE FOLLOWING WAS SENT TO BRIDGESTONE VIA EMAIL THIS IS TO INFORM BRIDGESTONE TIRE OF A CATASTROPHIC SIDEWALL BLOWOUT THAT OCCURRED ON A BRIDGESTONE POTENZA TIRE ON JULY 25, 2008. THE BLOWOUT OCCURRED AT THE START OF A CROSS COUNTRY TRIP ON INTERSTATE 40 HEADING TOWARDS MEMPHIS, TN. THE CAR IS A 2007 SUBARU IMPREZA PURCHASED NEW IN SEPTEMBER 2007 AND HAD APPROXIMATELY 6500 MILES ON IT AT THE START OF THE TRIP. THE MARKINGS ON THE TIRE ARE AS FOLLOWS: BRIDGESTONE POTENZA P 205/55R16 89V K0350 E92ADZ DOT EM8K JLL1207 THE SIDEWALL BLOWOUT OCCURRED TO THE LEFT REAR TIRE. PRIOR TO THE START OF THE TRIP THE CAR HAD A TUNE-UP AT AN AUTHORIZED SUBARU SERVICE DEALER. WHEN THE BLOWOUT OCCURRED THE CAR WAS PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE TIRE WAS CHANGED USING THE PROVIDED SPARE TIRE THAT COMES WITH THE CAR. THE CAR WAS THEN DRIVEN TO THE NEAREST TIRE SERVICE COMPANY WHICH WAS WAL MART TIRE AND LUBE IN SAVANNAH, TN. STORE # 0268 175 J.I. BELL LANE, SAVANNAH, TN 38372. (731) 925 ' 3020. THE CAR'S OFFICIAL MILEAGE AS RECORDED ON THE ODOMETER AND NOTED ON THE SERVICE INVOICE WAS 6824 MILES. DAMAGE TO THE TIRE WAS TWO TEARS - ONE APPROXIMATELY TWO INCHES LONG AND ANOTHER ONE APPROXIMATELY 6 INCHES LONG ON THE SIDEWALL HALF WAY UP BETWEEN THE INNER RIM AND THE EDGE OF THE TIRE. THE DAMAGED TIRE IS AT MY HOME ADDRESS AND IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $98.25. INVOICE # 77525. AT THIS TIME I EXPECT BRIDGESTONE TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE COST OF THE TIRE IN THE AMOUNT OF $98.25. PROVIDE A NEW TIRE OF EQUAL VALUE TO MATCH THE REMAINING 3 TIRES AND INSPECT THE REMAINING THREE TIRES FOR ANY POTENTIAL POSSIBILITIES OF HAVING A SIDEWALL BLOWOUT. IF THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF A SIDEWALL BLOWOUT OCCURRING IN ANY OF THE THREE REMAINING TIRES I WOULD WANT THEM REPLACED. A COPY OF THIS LETTER HAS BEEN SENT TO THE DOT. DAVID HABER *TR

STARTED HEARING A ROTATIONAL NOISE FROM BACK WHEELS OF CAR. IT GOT LOUDER AS SPEED INCREASED. TOOK TO HONDA DEALER. THEY PERFORMED A SERVICE BULLETIN TO REPLACE THE REAR UPPER CONTROL ARMS AND DID ALIGNMENT. THE INCORRECT PARTS WERE INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY. HOWEVER, THE BAD PARTS ALLOWED THE REAR TIRES TO 'CUP' CAUSING THE NOISE. THE DEALER (AND MANUFACTURER) ARE REFUSING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PREMATURE TIRE WEAR CAUSED BY THE INCORRECT PARTS INSTALLED DURING MANUFACTURER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW 5 SERIES. THE VEHICLE HAS BRIDGESTONE POTENZA TIRES. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS FLATTENED BY A SCREW IN THE ROAD AND ALSO A POTHOLE. THE TIRE IS A RUN FLAT TIRE, WHICH MEANS THE VEHICLE CAN BE DRIVEN FOR AT LEAST FIFTY MORE MILES AFTER A FLAT WITHOUT ANY DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL. ONCE THE CONTACT ARRIVED HOME, THE WHEEL SPLIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WHEEL SHOULD NOT HAVE SPLIT AND CRACKED. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE TIRE, THE WHEEL, AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE STRUT. THE TIRE DEPTH AND SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 25,596.

ROUGH IDLE WITH FLUCTUATING RPM, LONG CRANK BEFORE ENGINE TURNS OVER ON IGNITION. AT FIRST IT WAS ONCE A MONTH OCCURRENCE, SOON IT TURNED INTO ONCE A WEEK AND BECAME ALMOST A SURE-THING. TOOK IT TO A BMW DEAL WHO REPLACED A FUEL PUMP. NOW LONG CRANK AND FLUCTUATING RPM AT IDLE IS MOSTLY GONE BUT RARELY HAPPENS AGAIN. ALSO, SIDEWALL OF FRONT PASSENGER SIDE RUN-FLAT TIRE (RFT) HAS A BUBBLE EVEN THOUGH THE TIRE HASN'T EXPERIENCE ANY SHOCK (FROM POTHOLES, ETC). *TR

I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND THE TIRE BLEW OUT. I WENT HOME AND PUT ON MY "DONUT" TO FIND OUT THAT THE BLOW OUT OCCURRED ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE CLOSE TO THE TIRE WHEEL INTERFACE. I CALLED MY SERVICEMAN AND HAD MY TWO BACK WHEELS REPLACED. *TR

I HAD A BLOWOUT ON MY RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE THAT WAS CAUSED BY THE TIRE WEARING DOWN TO THE CORD AND BEYOND IN A 3 INCH BAND ON THE INSIDE. I BELIEVE IT WAS RUBBING UP AGAINST THE STRUT AND HAS TO HAVE BEEN FOR SOME TIME FOR THAT MUCH DAMAGE TO OCCUR. MY CR IS COMPLETELY STOCK, DOWN TO THE TIRES. THIS JUST HAPPENED AN HOUR AGO, AND IT IS JULY 4T SO THAT WILL HAVE TO WAIT. BUT AT THE VERY LEAST I WILL HAVE TO BUY A NEW TIRE. WHO KNOWS IF IT IS HAPPENING IN THE OTHER WHEEL WELLS, I WILL FIND OUT WHEN I TAKE IT IN. *TR