WHILE TRAVELING SOUTH IN THE OUTSIDE LANE OF INTERSTATE 380 AT APPROXIMATELY 1:00 P.M. CDT ON SATURDAY, MAY 20, 2006, 1/2 MILE NORTH OF MILE MARKER 29, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE OF MY 2000 FORD EXCURSION LIMITED SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION. THE TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE STEELTEX R4S LT265/75R16D, SERIAL NUMBER 31350 EX BM20118-4. TIRE IS IN THE CUSTODY OF CERNY & IVEY ENGINEERING, ATTN: MR. STEVE SMITH, 5650 PEACHTREE PARKWAY, NORCROSS, GA 30092. CERNY & IVEY ANALYZED THE TIRE AND HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE TIRE FAILED DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT HAD WORSENED OVER TIME UNTIL THE TIRE FAILED. ACCIDENT REPORT IS ON FILE WITH THE LINN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE; REPORT NUMBER 06-13921. *NM