My complaint stems from an incident with the Firestone steeltex at tire which lost it's tread and nearly killed my family. Refer to my complaint which I classified under Firestone, LT245/75R16 (June 28th, 2003). From what I have learned so far...Firestone is being totaly unethical regarding their response to all these failures. I also feel that this organization, NHTSA is not representing the tax payers in that it is obvious from all these reports filed that something is seriously wrong with these tires. Why don't you put all Firestone, steeltex, tire complaints under one catagory? you are watering down the severity of this by having 10-15-20 or more different classifications where people such as myself lodge complaints. Please do something about these tires....more people will lose their lives unless something is done.

- Omaha, NE, USA

My family and I were nearly killed when our right rear tire on our 1996 Suburban lost it's tread. The tire was a Firestone, at, steeltex, 245/75R16. The tire never lost pressure the tread came off and cause us to go out of control into oncoming traffic where we nearly hit a pickup truck head on. From the point where the tire lost the tread to the time that I avoided hitting the oncoming truck we were in a skid which was about 100 to 150 feet with a chord lenght of about 8'. since I had overcompensated to miss the oncoming truck we started to skid sideways with the front tires pointed towards the shoulder of the road. At the time that the vehicle left the road we were just past perpendicular to the highway. I don't think that I had applied any brakes because I was afraid that it would make matters worse perhaps it would roll. At that time we left the road...I cranked the wheel the opposite way to avoid rolling the vehicle. It started to go straight for a time then it spun around the other direction...we were skidding with the front of the vehicle pointed towards the highway. We skidded sideways for several feet where we came to rest next to a telephone pole. My wife, my 7 year old daughter, and my twin babies luke and marin, 2 years old were in the back seat. Everyone was shaken up. Luckily no one was injured. There is approximatly $2,500 damage to our vehicle. $1,000 to the yard that we damaged. The day before our trip I took the Suburban to get the tires checked at a Firestone dealership. There was 8/32nds of tread on the tires.

- Omaha, NE, USA

The right rear tire experienced tread separation while driving at 60 mph. The rear of the vehicle went airborne and vibrated badly. The vehicle immediately stopped and nothing appeared out of order and at the speed of 40 mph there was no indication of vibrating or bouncing. The dealer found the tire tread partially separated from the carcass, there was no leakage of air, and no splitting of tread or sidewall. The Firestone dealer said there were no recalls. (model tire/R4S II)

- Jackson, MI, USA

While traveling on the freeway, consumer edxperienced tread separation, consumer went to a local Firestone dealer and they replaced the tire at a discount price and refused to provided a free replacement, consumer is requesting reimbursement for the tire as well as the five hundred deductibile to consumer vehicle due to the tread separation which caused damaged to the vehicle. Firestone lt 245/75R-16 load range E (ms).

- Thousand Oaks, CA, USA

While driving at approximately 70 mph front passenger's tire tread separated. Entire tread peeled off tire, but did not blowout. Damage was done to wheel weld, and passenger mirror. Goodyear, Wrangler, gs-a LT265/75R-16C, dot# mdw8wk0V179, and tire had approximately 30K mileagae.

- Scottsdale, AZ, USA

PE 00 040/tread separation: Both rear tire experienced tread separation while traveling at 75 mph with driver and seven passengers, 4 adults and 3 children in a 1996 Chevrolet, Suburban; original equipment, tire size P245/75R16, dot# unavailable. No damage or injuries reported. Firestone was notified, and willing to assist on a prorate replacement only. Firestone steeltex R4S, E load.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

Consumer's wife was driving at highway speed in 1996, Chevrolet, Suburban when right rear Firestone tire, P245/75R16, dot: Bd11bac509 experienced tread separation.

- Falls Village, CT, USA

Firestone, stee tex, tire size lt24575R16, dotvm11B3A197; while driving 70 mph tread on right rear tire completely separated.

- Boulder City, NV, USA

While traveling 75mph right rear tire blewout. Vehicle vibrated. Pulled to side., and checked tires. Noticed tread had peeled off. Put spare on. Brought another tire to replace spare. 2nd tire left rear blewout, same thing had happened. Then, 3rd tire, right front, same problem. Threw away first tire. Kept other two tires that blew out same day. Vehicle went off road to the left & then back to the right. Driver suffered back injuries due to tread separation of third tire. Bridgestone pueler apt (after market) lt 265/75R16.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

PE00 020; consumer was traveling about 60mph on highway and was pulling up into driveway, and she heard a noise. When she got out of the vehicle noticed that passenger's rear tire tread had separated from rim. Firestone, steel tex #at, LT245/75R16.

- Fairfax, VA, USA

While driving about 55 or 60 mph tread on the rear passenger's side tire came compeletely off, beating the truck to pieces. Driver was able to control truck. Original tire equipment on a 1996, Suburban. Tire size lt24575R16. Tire mileage about 26,000 miles. Owner replaced tire with the same tire. Firestone was not contacted about the tire. Chevrolet repaired truck, and owner received a new tire free of charge. The vehicle dealer repaired damaged caused by the tire failure as well as replaced the tire at no cost to the customer.

- Rhoadesville, VA, USA

PE-00-020 replacement tires on a 1996 Chevy Suburban, tire size lt24575R16, dot number vn11B1A, tire have about 35 thousands miles on them. When driving consumer noticed vibration coming from the front end, consumer had tires inspected and right rear tire was showed evidence of tread separation. Consumer also experienced a problem when driving 70 mph the left rear entire tread separated from the tire. Tire was replaced.

- Duncanville, TX, USA

Traveling 65mph & vehicle started to vibrate. Was towing camper at time. Stopped & checked & noticed nothing amiss. Drove for 10 miles & vibration got worse. Stopped again & checked tires. Noticed tread had separated from the casing, but was still attached. Contacted aaa & tire changed for spare. Do not have tire. Spare replaced with Goodyear at tire shop. Been in contact with Firestone retailer but not given tire exchangement. Firestone steel tex LT245/75416 with 47,000 miles. Dot #W211B1A435.

- Newark, DE, USA

Tire failures(2)involved tread coming off the tire (similar to those being recalled)( dot number: Tire size: 245/75R16 )

- Aiken, SC, USA

Tire failures(2)involved tread coming off the tire (similar to those being recalled)( dot number: Tire size: 245/75R16 )

- Aiken, SC, USA