DICK CEPEK TIRES Complaints

I had purchesed a set of Dick Cepek Extreme Country LT315/75/R16. The tires have 9/32nd left with approximately 15,000 miles. While driving on the highway the sidewall of the tire peeled off in one strip causing the tire to no longer hold its shape and blow out. Had it been a steer tire the incident could have been much worse. Twenty minutes prior to the failure all tires were inspected and confirmed to be inflated to the proper psi and without damage.

ON FRIDAY, JUNE 8TH 2012, ON MY 2003 FORD F250, THE FRONT LEFT (DRIVERS SIDE) TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE AND CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. THE TIRE IS A DICK CEPEK FUN COUNTRY 2 PURCHASED IN JULY 2007. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE TIRE HAD 60,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS PROPERLY INFLATED, THERE WAS ADEQUATE TREAD ON IT. MY 15 1/2 YEAR OLD SON, WHO HAS HIS PERMIT, WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, BUT WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE ENOUGH TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT AND REMOVE THE TRUCK FROM THE ROADWAY; WE WERE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH AT THE TIME. THE TIRE SIZE IS 315/75/16. *TR

MY DICK CEPEC FC II TIRES HAD THE TREAD SEPERATE FROM THE STEEL BELTS. THREE DEVELOPED AIR BUBBLES IN THE TREAD AREA, BUT ONE SLUNG THE TREAD OFF CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY TRUCK. I WAS TOLD BY DICK CEPEC THAT THE NUMBERS DIDN'T MATCH THE RECALLED TIRES SO THEY WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TIRES OR ANY DAMAGE. *TT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 DODGE RAM 2500 EQUIPPED WITH DICK CEPEK RADIAL F-C II 33/125OR117D TIRES (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CENTER TREAD ON THE FRONT TIRE (NOT SURE WHICH ONE) SUDDENLY FELL OFF, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE BUMPER, FENDER FLAIR AND GASKET LEAD. THE CONTACT WENT TO THE LOCAL DEALER WHO REFERRED HIM TO NHTSA. THE CONTACT REFERENCED RECALL 06T024000 (TIRES: TREAD/BELT) BUT THE TIRE MANUFACTURE DATE WAS NOT WITHIN THE AFFECTED TIRES' MANUFACTURE DATE FOR THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED.

LET ME START BY SAYING THAT I AM A ASE CERTIFIED MASTER TRUCK TECHNICIAN WITH 16 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. AFTER LEARNING OF THE SAFETY RECALL ON THE 285/75/16 DICK CEPEK RADIAL FCII, I INSPECTED ALL 5 OF MY TIRES. FOUR OF THE TIRES HAD MATCHING DOT CODES AND LOOKED FINE. THE FIFTH TIRE WAS BOUGHT AT A LATER DATE FROM THE ORIGINAL FOUR. THIS FIFTH TIRE IS SHOWING THE SIDEWALL SEPARATION THAT IS NOTED IN THE RECALL. WHEN I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER DIRECTLY AND READ THEM THE DOT CODES OFF OF THE TIRES I WAS TOLD THAT NONE OF THEM MATCHED THE MANUFACTURING CODES OF THE RECALL. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOMEONE CONTACT ME IN ORDER TO INVESTIGATE THIS FURTHER. *JB