Valve stem fail: 12/9/08 4 new Michelin weatherwise II 80,000 mile tires purchased from sears baybrook for 2007 Toyota Corolla. 5/31/10 blowout on rf tire at 70mph with 20,000 miles on tires and 8/32 tread left. No damage to steel rim, full wheel cover remained in place. 6/3/10 blowout tire/rim taken to sears baybrook. Sears representatives not interested in cause or resolution of problem. 6/4/10 tire/rim taken to local discount tire, personnel immediately found cause of blowout (rapid pressure loss from stem failure, cracks at base). Recommended check other stems. 2 others remaining on car were also installed by sears baybrook December 2008. 6/5/10 after presenting proof of cause and arguing with sears baybrook, they agreed to replace tire with minimal charge. 6/5/10 I took replacement tire to install on my daughters Corolla at school in college station, Texas. Asked sears college station to check other two sears installed stems for degradation citing recall information given by discount tire. Sears personnel said my information was incorrect on stem recall and refused to inspect my sears installed stems. I explained history to no avail. So I left my van in college station for my daughter to use and returned with the Corolla to confront sears baybrook personnel about the stems. 6/10/10 took the Corolla to sears baybrook to exchange a tire for correct tread and inspect the two 12/08 installed sears stems. Found one cracked and ready to fail. Prior to stem replacement, I asked that the stems be saved for me after removal. The stems were subsequently lost despite the salesman and I combing thru the garbage cans. I saw a sears printout of the stem recall/failure information with pictures of a stem identical in design and cracking to the one on the blow out tire as well as just removed from the Corolla. This proved that sears knew about the stem problem but failed to contact me or help when I asked. 6/12/10 researched valve stems, learned of china recall.

- Friendswood, TX, USA