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Review 8/11/2011
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Continued Sale of Known Faulty and Unsafe Automotive and Truck Tires.
Immediate inspection of all related tires to probable unsafe tire brand, model and shipment from manufacturer for the issue at hand.
Deployment or creation of corporate department, (Published Tire Safety Hotline on the web site), that addresses product related safety issues (independent of sales motivated channels), investigates related issues and institutes corrective action to prevent unsafe products.
March of 2011 - purchased two Nankang NS-1 tires from American Tire Depot.
July 3, 2011 - upon routine re-balance service checkup, tire shop found both tires (100% failure rate) to be defective with internal tire-separation. Exterior tire appearance is near new condition with no road hazard related defects; tires have not encountered any adverse driving conditions, debris damage and exhibited normal wear patterns in conformance with vehicle specification.
July 6, 2011 - First call (AM) to notify American Tire of unsafe tires sold. Representative admitted issues with that brand of tire indicating the issue is a known issue. Informed me that their policy is for consumer to deal with manufacturer directly and they would take no further action. Upon further explanation that both tires were exhibiting internal failures and that this failure rate is indicative of a bad lot or possibly bad tire design, representative refused to respond to this safety issue.
July 6, 2011 - Second call (PM) directly to sales contact. Explained tire symptoms as seen by the tire shop and sales contact agreed symptoms seen were classic indications of internal tire separation. Re-explained tire safety issue and high probability that unsafe tires are being sold. Further explained that previous call representative had acknowledged common defect infractions with the manufacturer and suggested that this issue should be escalated to management for further investigation. Sales contact showed no interest in obtaining non-conforming and unsafe tires for inspection and further corrective action to prevent potential hazardous and unsafe public event. Sales contact advised that he would discuss a remedy of my personal situation with his supervisor and would call me back later that day.
July 6-8, 2011 - no call or communication received from American Tire.
July 8, 2011 - Called American Tire to reach supervisor of sales contact. Re-iterated safety issue of bad tires being sold. No interest shown in addressing or correcting safety issue at hand.
July 8, 2011 - Exact size, make and model and numerous other models of same tire brand still being sold by American Tire.
July 8, 2011 - FTC complaint filed.
American Tire Depot is a high volume mail-order Value Added Reseller (VAR) of automotive and truck tires. As a re-seller and provider of products that directly affect road safety, American Tire has a duty to prevent the sale and distribution of unsafe tires. They are currently in breach of this duty which may cause damage or harm.
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