NHTSA complaint: 2011 HEARTLAND BIG COUNTRY — WHEELS
THE AFFECTED PARTS SECTION ABOVE WOULD NOT KEEP MY AFFECTED PARTS LISTED, SO THEY WERE THE DELAMINATED TIRE, FENDER SKIRTING AND SOME WIRING. WHILE TOWING MY 2011 3250 TS BIG COUNTRY FIFTH WHEEL AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH MY DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE TREAD ON THE CAMPER DELAMINATED. THE CAMPER WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND UPON INSPECTION I FOUND THE TREAD OF THE TOWMAX STR ST235/80R16 HAD DELAMINATED HALFWAY OFF OF THE TIRE CORE. AFTER CALMING DOWN AND GETTING ROADSIDE SERVICE TO PLACE THE SPARE ON THE CAMPER I CONTINUED SLOWLY TO THE NEARBY CAMPSITE. NOTE: WHILE I WAS WAITING FOR THE ROADSIDE SERVICE TO ARRIVE, ANOTHER FELLOW CAMPER STOPPED BY TO ASSIST IF HE COULD. WHILE THERE HE TOLD ME THAT THIS DELAMINATION PROBLEM WITH THESE TOWMAX TIRES HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. I FOUND HIS STATEMENT THIS TO BE VERY TRUE AND DISTURBING. AFTER COMPLETING RESEARCH ON VARIOUS/MANY RV FORUMS WHERE I READ SIMILAR STORIES AND SAW PICTURES OF SIMILAR/WORSE DAMAGES AS MY OWN I AM AMAZED AND SHOCKED THAT THESE TIRES ARE ALLOWED TO BE USED ON RV'S. AND THIS DELAMINATION PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS, AS NOTED BY THE RV FORUM REPORT DATES. AT A MINIMUM, THERE HAS BEEN PROPERTY DAMAGED. THANK GOODNESS IN OUR CASE WE HAD JUST LEFT A RED LIGHT AND WERE ONLY GOING 35-40 MPH. THIS IS A POTENTIAL LIFE THREATENING ISSUE THAT NEEDS IMMEDIATE ACTION TAKEN BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED!!! I AM NOW SEARCHING FOR 4 NEW TIRES TO REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE TIRES AND GET SOME PEACE OF
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation