I am the owner of a 2001 gmc (4-door) extended cab pick up (short bed). The truck came equipped with goodyear wrangler tires. The dot code for the tires is as follows: dot m63d ekwr 4200 (tires 0715, 0801, 1131, 1132). The tires have approximately 18,500 miles on them. They have been regularly serviced - air pressure checks and rotation. The subject tires have very very poor wet weather traction. I considered them dangerous so they were replaced. It seems to be rather common knowledge that these tires have poor wet traction. I draw this conclusion by my conversation with a goodyear dealer and postings on the internet at tirerack.com and discounttire.com (where people comment.) gm and/or goodyear should consider having better wet weather traction for the application.
2001 GMC Sierra tires complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 17 of 17, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I was driving at the posted speed limit on I-40 appox. 130 miles east of bastow claif. It was 1030am temp. Was less than 90 degrees. The truck suddenly started shaking violently and then the right front tire seemed to explode and the truck went in to the median. I was lucky enough to not roll or die. When I inspected the front tire tread was 3/4 gone (separated from the tire) but the tire still held air. That was the only saving grace. I tow a 17000lb 5th wheel trailer; had I been towing the trailer I do not believe I would be writing you now. There was also several hundred dollars of damage to the wheel well area of the truck from the tire tread slapping it. I spent $700. Today replacing all the dangerous tires encluding the spare. Something should be done to safeguard the public from this dangerous reality.
While driving, there was a vibration and the truck began to veer to the left and became uncontrollable, causing consumer to swerve into oncoming traffic, then onto the shoulder, when the vehicle finally stopped consumer discovered that both tires on the drivers side had suffered bead separation, the vehicle was towed to a firestone dealer and after examinging both tires it was determined that the tires were only inflated to 40lbs pressure each, the firestone dealer stated that the tires were not properly inflated to manufacturers specifications as per the door sticker, the under inflation caused the bead separation, there was damage sustained to the vehicle. (firestone steeltex lt245/75r16/e.
Automatic transmission makes gear noise in 1st and 4th gears. At purchase, vehicle had bad vibration problem. Dealer balanced wheels, which did not eliminate problem. Dealer tested tires and found one defective tire...the other three had to be "indexed" on the wheels. Driveshaft, suspension components/hardware and parts of the chassis have significant rust. (tiresize: p235/75r16)
Side of the tires blew out for no apparently reason, firestone rhs 245/75r16 lde
Consumer was dissatified with recall and called it fraud if tires are over inflated/ under inflated, or cold pressure .
New vehicle only 6 days old, driven only 350 some miles, while on local road at speed limit (30) began to vibrate, unable to control causing me to swerve into oncoming lane then onto shoulder. When vehicle stopped it was found both front and rear drivers side tire had beads had separated. Towed to firestone dealer who upon checking found passenger side tires only at 40lbs, gmc door sticker states 55lb front, 80lb rear. Dealer admits to inflating only to 40-45lbs.*ak (tiresize: lt24575r16)( dot number: tire size: lt24575r16 )
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