TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD MUSTANG. THE VEHICLE HAS SUMITOMO HTRZII TIRES, SIZE 315/35/R17. THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED IN MARCH OF 2009. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE CONTACT STRUCK A ROUNDED CURB. THIS CAUSED A LARGE SLIT IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRES. THE DAMAGE WAS INEXPLICABLE BASED ON THE NATURE OF THE IMPACT. SEVERAL TIRE DEALERS STATED THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS TYPE OF FAILURE NUMEROUS TIMES WITH THAT PARTICULAR TIRE BRAND AND MODEL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 200 MILES FOR THE TIRES. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 48,000. UPDATED 05/13/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED HE HAS AN ISSUE WITH THE TIRE SIZE OF THE SIDEWALL. THE CONSUMER STATED A SIDEWALL O A 2 RATED TIRE, SHOULD BE JUST AS STRONG AS THE TREAD. UPDATED 05/13/09.*JB