2000 MERCEDES BENZ S500 EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL CONTACT TOURING 22560HR16 TIRES HAD STEEL BELTING PROTRUDING BETWEEN TREAD AND NEXT LAYER AT 18000 MI. REPLACED ALL 4 WITH NEW IDENTICAL TIRES. REPLACED AGAIN AFTER 20000 MI DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION. IN JANUARY 2006, AFTER 10000 MI, A BLOWOUT ON THE HIGHWAY 101 "GRAPEVINE". WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR, USED SPARE TO GET HOME, AND HAD THE TIRE REPLACED DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION. HAD THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO AN UNUSUAL VIBRATION, AND WAS INFORMED THAT I HAD 2 DEFECTIVE TIRES IN THE FRONT WHICH WERE REPLACED FEBRUARY 21ST 2006. ON FRIDAY MARCH 3RD, ON A DRY COOL STRAIGHT FREEWAY, A CATASTROPHIC BLOWOUT ON THE FRONT DRIVERS TIRE CAUSED THE CAR TO VEER LEFT INTO A BRIDGE CURB CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE. THESE TIRES HAVE GOT TO BE DANGEROUS! TO MANY FAILURES FOR NEW TIRES. *NM