NITTO TIRES Complaints

THE PURPOSE TO THIS LETTER IS TO ADVISE YOU OF AN INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED SATURDAY JUNE 19, 2004. WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 80 AT 65 MPH, I EXPERIENCED A FRIGHTENING ENCOUNTER. I HEARD A LOUD POP AND IMMEDIATELY THE REAR RIGHT OF MY CAR BEGAN TO SWAY AND I ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE ROAD ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE, TO FIND A VERY SURPRISINGLY STRANGE TIRE BLOW OUT. THE ENTIRE SIDEWALL OF MY 285/35/18 NITTO NT555 COLLAPSED, AND WAS PUSHED IN TOWARD THE REAR SIDEWALL CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGES TO MY 18 Z06 WHEEL. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A SIDEWALL COMPLETELY BLOW OUT AND DETACH ITSELF FROM THE TIRE, LET ALONE FROM NORMAL USE. THIS TIRE APPEARED AS IF A KNIFE WAS TAKEN TO IT AND SEVERED OFF. DAMAGES SUFFERED TO THE RIM, AS A RESULT OF THIS INCIDENT ARE SO EXTENSIVE THAT REPAIRS ARE NOT AN OPTION. A REPLACEMENT RIM WILL NEED TO BE PURCHASED, AS WELL AS THE NEW NITTO TIRE. THE DEFECTIVE TIRE CURRENTLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 90-95% TREAD WEAR LEFT, WHICH IS THE REASON WHY I AM ASKING FOR NITTO CORP. TO COMPENSATE MY LOSSES. ENCLOSED PLEASE REVIEW THE PHOTOGRAPHS THAT WERE TAKEN ON SITE, AND PROCESS THIS REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT. I AM FORTUNATE ENOUGH THAT THIS MISHAP CAUSED BY YOUR DEFECTIVE TIRE DID NOT RESULT IN DAMAGES EXCEEDING THE ONES THAT OCCURRED. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE. ENCLOSED IS ALSO A PRICE QUOTE ON A REPLACEMENT RIM. THE RIM PRICE IS $315, FROM AAA RIMS. THIS QUOTE WAS OBTAINED THROUGH JASON, AN AAA RIM REPRESENTATIVE THE MORNING OF 7/21/2004. THE TIRE HAS BEEN SHIPPED OFF TO TOYO TIRES INC. I ALSO FILED A CLAIM WITH TM CLAIM SERVICE, WHICH IS TOYO TIRES INSURANCE COMPANY. THE TIRE WAS SHIPPED OFF FOR INSPECTION, AND TWO WEEKS LATER I AM STILL WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. I ALSO HAVE PICTURES THAT WERE TAKEN ONSITE, AND VARIOUS OTHERS. THANK YOU P.S OLD PARTS ARE STILL AVAILABLE. *LA

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH CONSUMER RAN OVER A POTHOLE THAT CAUSED THE TIRE TO DEVELOP A BUBBLE ON THE SIDEWALL. NITTO P215/40ZR17. BOTH THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALERSHIP WERE CONTACTED.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE, MY REAR NITTO 450 TIRE HAD A TREAD SEPARATION FAILURE WHICH CAUSED MY 1999 MAZDA MIATA TO LOSE CONTROL, SPINNING OUT FROM THE LEFT LANE ACROSS THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC DURING RUSH HOUR, FINALLY HITTING THE EMBANKMENT ON THE FAR RIGHT SIDE. THE NITTO TIRE WAS EXAMINED AND DETERMINED TO HAVE FAILED BASED ON TREAD SEPARATION. THE TRAUMATIC INDICIDENT CAUSED SIGNIFICANT HARM TO THE MYSELF.

WHILE TRAVELING WESTBOUND ON SAM HOUSTON TOLLWAY NEAR IMPERIAL VALLEY RD., I EXPERIENCED A FRONT RIGHT TIRE FAILURE WHICH CAUSED THE THREAD TO BE COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE SIDWALLS. THE APPARENT DAMAGE WERE TO THE TIRE AND RIM OF THE CAR. THE SUSPENSION/FRAME MAY ALSO BE DAMAGED. I MAY ALSO HAVE SUFFERED INJURY FROM THE INCIDENT AS A RESULT.*AK (DOT NUMBER: CXXV5WYI38 TIRESIZE: 225/45R/17)

AFTER MARKET NITTO ROAD TOURING TIRE, P215/70R14 SIZE, DOT#: CXNX3DF195. RIGHT REAR TIRE WORE OUT ON ONE SIDE AND CRACKED, CAUSING IT TO BURST FROM INSIDE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK CONSUMER STATES DURING PURCHASE OF VEHICLE, ALL TIRES EXCEPT ONE APPEARED TO HAVE CONSIDERABLE MILES REMAINING, 2-3 THOUSAND MILES LATER, ONE TIRE BEGAN CRACKING ON THE SIDEWALL NEAR THE FACE, IT WAS REPLACED, A LITTLE WHILE LATER TWO MORE TIRES EXPERIENCED THE SAME, THE FOURTH TIRE FAILED IN THE DRIVEWAY, IT BURST FROM CRACKING, AFTER CONSUMER HAD GONE ON TRIP, CONSUMER FEELS IT IS FOOLISH TO PUT 14 INCH TIRES ON A VEHICLE AS LARGE AS THE AEROSTAR. *SLC