2002 Chevrolet Silverado: tire blowout or tread separation

Filed May 1, 2006 · Tires · 38,000 miles · FL

I purchased new, a 2002 chevrolet 2500 hd crew cab 4x4 from ed morse sawgrass chevrolet. In 2004, after noticing signs of cracking on the sidewalls and area where the sidewall meets the treads on all four tires, I brought the truck to maroone chevrolet service center for inspection. I explained that I was concerned that the tires, having approximately 24,000 miles on them, should not be cracking that it might be dangerous. The supervisor inspected them and told me that it was normal and I had nothing to worry about. I asked for something in writing and he refused to give me anything. As a result, in december 2005, while returning from vacation with my family, without warning there was a sudden loud noise followed by a severe vibration and difficulty in handling. I immediately pulled off the road. Upon inspection I found that the entire tread was missing from the right rear tire (firestone steeltex a/t). Luckily at that time the tire still held pressure. Had I not immediately pulled over, the tire could have blown out and the results could have been devastating. Upon further inspection when I arrived home, when the tread separated from the tire it damaged the support bars in the wheel well and folded up the fender behind the tire. As the other three tires look the same, I am concerned for my family's safety and am not driving the vehicle until I have replaced all tires. I have written to the dealership and consumer affairs and have not gotten a response from either.

Filed Dec 16, 2005 · Tires · WA

I am writing to inform you of a tire problem I had the other day with one of your firestone steeltex radial a/t lt 245 75 r16 ten ply truck tire. The other info on the tire is 120/116 r m&s. Dot vh11 baac 2801, 008009, da807t. I have only 23,000 miles on these tires. They came on the vehicle when I purchased it new. It was on the passenger side rear of my 2002 chevy duramax. 2500 hd. Had 80 psi as required and I had my camper on. Right at 30 inches of tread separated from the casing. I was lucky to have noticed the problem before it came all the way off and did any damage at all to my vehicle. \we have no firestone dealer at all in our area, and I could not take the chance of this problem ever happening again with these tires. I have replace all 4 tires with the same size and load range as required with another brand. Attached are some pictures of the tire. Is firestone interested in my problem, and what do I need to do now with my bad tire and the remaining 3 tires? Thank-you.

Filed Sep 12, 2005 · Body · 54,000 miles · NY

I am the original owner of a 2002 chevy silverado. This past july I lowered the spare tire for the first time to clean off mud and discovered that there were four locations on the side wall of tire that were worn away. This was caused by the bed of the truck. The tire was secure and had the proper tire inflation. I check the pressure about 4-5 times a year while it is still secured under the truck. I contacted gm and was told to bring the tire to my local dealer. Service manager saw the tire and stated he sees this all the time and believes it is a design flaw especially in the s-10 pick ups. He advised me not to use the tire. It is to dangerous. I purchased a new tire to replace the spare and now in the process of trying to get gm to repay that cost. They have denied all requests so far stating I did not rotate tires properly. In the service book there are 2 ways to rotate tires one includes the spare and the other does not. I did the one that showed the four tire rotation not five because the spare is a steel rim not aluminum like the other four drive wheels. I am lucky that I removed the spare during daylight hours just for cleaning and not at night when I had too. The damaged sidewall of tire is on the inside once on the truck and I would never had seen the damage had it been at night. I also pull a camper with this vehicle and the results of having the side wall blow out at highway speeds pulling a camper scared me. As I mentioned earlier, I have replaced the spare with new tire. But what will keep the damage from occurring again ? I guess I will have to keep moving the spare tire. Gm should redesign the tire holder or provide some type of cushion between tire and bed of truck. I am sure that had I had a flat tire and used the spare earlier in the trucks life this would not have happened. I have the tire and can provide pictures upon request. Please feel free to contact me at anytime.

Filed Sep 30, 2004 · Tires, Wheels · 44,000 miles · FL · crash

Consumer was driving on the highway at approximately 66 MPH the tire blew out. The front wheel assembly snapped off right behind the brake hub assembly. Then, vehicle dropped down on its frame and skidded along the road for about 150 to 200 yards and then skidded into a guard rail. Consumer contacted the manufacturer , and was told that the manufacturer will send someone to investigate the situation. Currently, gm denied the claim.*ak right front wheel assembly broke off at the upper ball joint.

Filed Jan 13, 2004 · Tires, Transmission · 4,000 miles · WV

While driving driver's side front tire blew out, causing the wheel to lock. The 4-wheel drive will no longer properly operate.

Filed Jan 5, 2004 · Tires · 34,758 miles · CA

Oe tires, goodyear wrangler st (235x75x16).ehicle was an empty 2002 chevy silverado. Follow a strict rotation plan and check the air pressure often.ignificant "cupping" noticed on the sidewalls on front and rear tires. *ak very poor traction in adverse weather conditions dry traction is marginal at best on january 3rd, 2004. I was proceeding on the northbound hwy 14 through the mountains from los angeles to lancaster proceeding around a slight right turn between 65-70mph. There was no debris or other hazards in the road. There was a slight wobble and then the complete tire failure on the passenger-side rear tire. The sidewall of the looks like it exploded outward, complete sidewall separation. While I was capable of manuvering my veichle off the freeway, this is a very dangerous problem, that from reviewing tirerack.com and other complaints on the federal safety agency's web site appears to be a common occurance with these tires. I am going to see if the dealer will allow me to exchange my tires with similar priced ones from a differant manufacture, these tires are unsafe and I do not trust my life or anyone elses life on them.

Filed May 16, 2003 · Tires · CA

While driving the vehicle 55 MPH the drivers side rear tire tread separated and caused the tire to blowout (bridgestone) please identify tire size and dot number.

Filed Apr 14, 2003 · Tires · 15,500 miles · OH

Firestone steeltex radial tire [lt245/75r16] [load range e m/s] tread separated [driver side rear of 2002 chevrolet silverado 3/4 ton heavy duty pick up] while towing a fifth wheel trailer at 65 miles per on interstate I-75 in kentucky. It sounded like driving on the grooves used to warn drivers they are going off the road. Then the rear of the truck began to move slightly left/right. We were just starting up a long, steep hill in the slow lane and were able to pull over onto the shoulder in a good spot where people could see us. Many drivers came close, but we were not injured. A trucker stopped to help us. He said it looked like the tire had dry rot. Maybe a foot of tread near the side wall came loose. A small chunk [3''] was also loose. The tire collapsed completely. I feel we might have lost control if we had been passing or going down hill. I checked inflation just a few days earlier.

Filed Feb 3, 2003 · Tires · MI

The front drive side tire blew. Size #p26575r16 dot# w273wma1102. Dealer has been notified. Ph

Filed Aug 20, 2002 · Tires · CA

No road hazard came in contact with the tire. Outside temperature was approximately 103f. Complete separation of tread from sidewall. Nothing remained on rim but sidewall. Body damage to fender well as well as rubber burn marks, due to centripetal forces from tire tread separating from sidewall.

Filed Jul 10, 2001 · Tires · CA

While traveling approx.60 MPH. On highway driver side rear tire suffered major blowout. It is totally split out around outer edge halfway around tire. I have contacted the dealer where truck was purchased and they say it is not a recall tire, and also contacted gm and was told same. I am not sure what to do next except just purchase a whole new set of tires at my own expense. Thank you. *ak (dot number: vn73 wmb tiresize: p265/75r16)