Subject: Mastercraft tire tread separation comments: In March, 2003, I purchased a 2002 Dodge Intrepid using ebay. The car had 8,000 miles and carfax showed no accidents. When the car arrived, I noticed it had two new mastercraft sensy tires on the front, unusual for that low mileage. Upon inspection, I found that the right tie rod end had been bent and not repaired, the likely cause of the new tires. I then replaced the right tie rod end and had all four wheels aligned. As the tires had a tread wear rating of 620, I figured there were good for many miles. In late July, 2006, the car had 32K miles. I was hearing a loud "slapping" sound on the front end. Taking the car to a costco car center, they determined that both tires had tread separation, requiring immediate replacement. The tires had less than 25K miles on them. The car has a lifetime four-wheel alignment policy from Firestone ever since I purchased it, and the front end alignment has been checked about every 3-4K miles. These tires apparently had a manufacturing defect. Their identification is mastercraft sensy 01, 225 60 R16 M&S 98T, dot 3dx3 fmw 3302, not as described by your form below which has incomplete info use only the info in this paragraph to describe model, size and dot number. I suggest this defect should be investigated. The tires were left at costco and are no longer available, but I have their written statement of the problem. Your comments please. Thank you.

- Orangevale, CA, USA