# 1997 MAZDA 626 — TIRES
> NHTSA complaint `555563` · 2005-09-22 · Mazda Motor Corp.
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** MAZDA
- **Model:** 626
- **Year:** 1997
- **Manufacturer:** Mazda Motor Corp.
- **Component:** TIRES
- **Speed:** 70 mph
## Narrative
BRAND NEW SET OF 4 TIRES, FR440 (DOT NO.HYRC4FB4703) P195/65R14 PURCHASED FROM FIRESTONE IN MAY 2005.  CHECKED AIR AND ADJUSTED AFTER 100 MILES AS ADVISED, AND MONTHLY THEREAFTER.  JULY 13TH, 3000 MILES LATER, FRONT DRIVER-SIDE TIRE BLEW, WHILE DOING 70 MPH AT 6AM (NOT HOT ENOUGH FOR TIRES TO BE TOO HOT, ONLY ON ROAD FOR APPROX. 7 MINUTES WHEN IT HAPPENED).  GOLF BALL SIZE HOLES IN A PATTERN BLOWN OUT HALF WAY AROUND THE TIRE ON THE SIDEWALL, AND CAN SEE THE PATTERN CONTINUING THE REST OF THE WAY.  FIRESTONE REPLACED TIRE FOR $9 DUE TO MY ROAD HAZARD PURCHASE, BUT WOULDN'T COVER THE COST TO GET A NEW WHEEL, CONTROL ARM, SWAY BAR, AXLE, STRUT & STRUT MOUNT.  $500 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO MY 97 MAZDA 626LX; COULD'VE BEEN MORE, BUT A FRIEND, MY BOYFRIEND & MYSELF DID ALL OF THE WORK.  A SHOP WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE COSTLY.  FIRESTONE TENNESSEE OFFICE "INVESTIGATED" AND BLAMED IT ON: "OUR INSPECTION SHOWED DEFORMATION AND RIM FLANGE GROOVING...WE DID OBSERVE SIGNS THAT THE TIRE HAS BEEN OPERATED FOR AN UNKOWN PERIOD OF TIME IN AN OVER-DEFLECTED STATE CAUSING THE DETACHMENT YOU EXPERIENCED."  THE FIRST SHOP WE TOOK IT TO AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT ADVISED US THAT IT WAS A FAULTY TIRE AND EVEN THOUGH THEY'D SELL US A NEW TIRE, TO TAKE IT BACK TO WHERE WE PURCHASED IT AS THE SELLER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE; THAT IF IT WAS THEIR TIRE, THEY'D REPLACE THE TIRE, WHEEL & PAY FOR ANY OTHER DAMAGE AS A RESULT.  WISHED I HAD BOUGHT MY TIRES FROM THEM.  *NM
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*