# FIRESTONE STEELTEX R4S — TIRES:TREAD/BELT
> NHTSA complaint `407752` · 2003-05-14 · FIRESTONE TIRE & RUBBER CO.
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** FIRESTONE
- **Model:** STEELTEX R4S
- **Year:** —
- **Manufacturer:** FIRESTONE TIRE & RUBBER CO.
- **Component:** TIRES:TREAD/BELT
## Narrative
BLOWOUT WITH TREAD SEPARATION WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON LEFT FRONT R4S II LT265/75/R16 STEELTEX RADIAL M/S LOAD RANGE E CAUSING AN ACCIDENT CROSSING MEDIAN OPPOSITE DIRECTION TRAFFIC BARELY MISSING AN ONCOMING 18 WHEELER THROUGH A DITCH/6FT CULVERT THROUGH A FENCE AND INTO FIELD. EXTENSIVE ($8.000+) DAMAGE TO F-350 SCLWB 4X4 FRAME AND FRONT END.  22800 MILES ON FACTORY TIRES, FORD HAD REFUSED TO REPLACE TIRES IN 2000 WHEN ASKED "THEY WEREN'T ON THE LIST"  TIRES VDW8-DECATUR PLANT.   *NLM
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*