1991 Ford Explorer Tires

AFTER MARKET FIRESTONE ATX TIRES , P235/75R15 SIZE, DOT#: VDHL. ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.*AK *SLC

PE00 020; TOOK HER VEHICLE FOR A WHEEL ALIGNMENT, AND MECHANIC NOTICED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES HAD CRACKES ALL AROUND THE TIRE WALLS. *AK

ON 02/16/2000 THE LEFT REAR TIRE DE-LAMINATED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 75MPH. THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS ALSO FOUND TO BE DE-LAMINATING AT THIS TIME. BOTH TIRES WERE PURCHASED IN 1997. THEN ON 7/28/2000, A THIRD ATX TIRE, PURCHASED JAN. 1999, WAS FOUND TO BE IN THE EARLY STAGES OF DE-LAMINATION. WHEN THE MATTER WAS TAKEN UP WITH A FIRESTONE DEALER, THE DEALER DENIED THE DEFECT AND OFFERED TO PUT 40% OF THE PRICE OF THE NOW DE-LAMINATING TIRE TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF NEW TIRES. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

PE00 020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 25MPH ON SIDE DIRT ROAD,AND WAS ABLE TO STOP. HE NOTICED THAT LEFT FRONT TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED. FIRESTONE, #ATX, P2357515. HE HAS CONTACTED FIRESTONE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE LOCAL INTERSTATE, THE TREAD ON ONE OF OUR REAR TIRES SEPARATED. THANK GOODNESS IT WAS AT NIGHT AND NOT MUCH TRAFFIC. THIS OCCURRED BEFORE THE RECALL, WE JUST THOUGHT THAT IT WAS A FLUKE ACCIDENT. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH THE SPARE, WHICH IS ALSO FIRESTONE, AND ANOTHER SPARE WAS PURCHASED. NOW, WE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE OTHER REAR TIRE -- WE HAVE CALLED OUR LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER DAILY, BUT THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED A SHIPMENT FOR RECALL REPLACEMENTS SINCE THE RECALL WAS ISSUED. WE ARE NOT IN THE POSITION TO MAKE A MAJOR PURCHSE OF 4 NEW TIRES, AND FEAR OUR SAFETY. WHAT IN THE WORLD CAN WE DO? PLEASE ADVISE -- I HAVE CONTACTED FIRESTONE, BUT ONLY GET THEIR STANDARD SCRIPTED ANSWERS. I ALSO OBJECT TO THE WAY FIRESTONE IS PLACING THE BLAME OF THEIR FAULTY WORKMANSHIP ONTO THE CUSTOMER AND HOT WEATHER. IF THEIR TIRES CANNOT HOLD UP TO HOT TEXAS SUMMERS, THEN THEY SHOULD NOT BE SELLING THEIR PRODUCT IN TEXAS. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO VENT.( DOT NUMBER: )

BLWOUT AT 60 MPH ON BUSY FREEWAY RR TIRE. DAMAGED REAR PORTION OF THE SUV. TIRE COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM TREAD AND WOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR WRECK BUT FOR THE SKILL OF THE DRIVER AND GODS GRACE. HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE FOR THE DRIVER(MY GRANDAUGHTER). I REPLACED THESE TIRES AT THE LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER BUT AM NOW TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE. I CAN'T AFFORD 4 NEW "SAFE" TIRES, WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE? *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

WHEN THE ORIGINAL FIRESTONE TIRES WORE OUT ON MY FORD EXPLORER, I REPLACED THEM WITH WHAT THE DEALER RECOMMENDED, NAMELY FI RESTONE ATX TIRES. BOTH REAR ATX TIRES DEVELOPED CRACKS ON THE SIDEWALLS AND HAD BEGUN TO SEPARATE. THE FIRESTONE DEALER BLAMED ME FOR THE PROBLEM, SAYING THAT I MUST HAVE HIT A CURB WHEN PARKING. WHEN I POINT OUT THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE ALSO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM HE MADE THE SAME EXCUSE AND TOLD ME THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE TIRES AND THAT THE WEAR ON THE SIDEWALLS WAS MY FAULT. I GOT SO DISGUSTED AT THE FIRESTONE TIRE DEALER'S LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY AND FAILURE TO TAKE ANY CORRECTIVE STEPS THAT I DROVE TO COSTCO AND HAD THEM REPLACE ALL 4 FIRESTONE ATX TIRES WITH MICHLEANS. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 70 X 15 )

THE REAR TIRES BELTS APPEAR TO HAVE SEPERATED CAUSING LARGE KNOTS ALL AROUND THE TREAD OF BOTH REAR TIRE THEY EVEN HAVE BUBBLES ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE.ALL OF THIS HAPPENED IN ABOUT A 30 MILE TRIP,YOU COULD FEEL A WOBBLE IN THE BACK THAT GROW WORSE, AND WORSE.IF I HAD NOT PULLED OF TO INSPECT THEM I AM SURE THEY WOULD HAVE BLOWN.I STILL HAVE THE TIRES BUT DON'T KNOW WHO TO CONTACT ABOUT THEM BECAUSE I CAN'T FIND A LEMANS TIRE COMPANY AND THERE IS NO OTHER MANUFACTURES NAME ON THE TIRES.

I WAS CRUISING THE INTERSTATE AT APPROX. 60/65 MPH WHEN THE REAR DRIVERS-SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL CASING. THE LOOSE TREAD DID SERIOUS DAMAGE TO THE WHEEL-WELL. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/R15 )

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 00T005, CONSUMER REPLACED FIRESTONE TIRES AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT. *SLC

AFTERM ARKET FIRESTONE ATX TIRE P235/75R15 SIZE. LEFT FRONT AND LEFT REAR TREAD SEPARATED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER, EJECTING AND KILLING THE DRIVER.*AK *MJS

PE00-020 ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT WITH FIRESTONE RADIAL AT . 3 OUT OF 4 TIRES WERE PLUGGED WITHIN 1 YEAR AND AT APPROXIMATELY 45,000 MILES , CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 55 MPH WHEN LEFT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT UNEXPECTEDLY. ALL TIRES HAD PLENTY OF TREAD, AND LOOKED LIKE NEW.*AK FIRESTONE DEALER INDICATED THAT IT IS NOT THEIR FAULT. *YH

ON JULY 18, 1999, I WAS TAKING MY DAUGHTER (15 AT THE TIME) TO SUMMER CAMP FROM HENDERSON, NC TO BROWN SUMMIT, NC. SHE WAS DRIVING UNDER HER PERMIT, AND I WAS DOZING. I WAS SUDDENLY AWAKENED BY A SOUND LIKE A MACHINE GUN, AND THE NEXT THING I KNEW, WE WERE SPINNING IN CIRCLES ACROSS THREE LANES OF I-40/85. WE ENDED UP SPINNING OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT FORTUNATELY DID NOT TURN OVER. I FOUND THAT MY RIGHT REAR TIRE (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT) HAD LOST ITS TREAD, AND THAT WAS THE NOISE I HAD HEARD. A PASSING MOTORIST STOPPED TO SEE IF WE WERE OK, AND HE SAID THAT HE DIDN'T KNOW HOW WE AVOIDED BEING CREAMED BY AN ONCOMING SEMI-TRAILER. THE NEXT DAY (MONDAY), I WENT TO A TIRE DEALER IN HENDERSON, AND FORKED OUT $400 FOR A SET OF MICHELIN M/S TIRES. THE DEALER COMMENTED ABOUT THE FIRESTONES, "OH, YEAH, SOMETIMES TREAD DOES COME OFF LIKE THAT." WE WERE LUCKY, AND ALL WE SUFFERED WERE PSYCHOLOGICAL INJURIES, AND DAMAGED WHEEL WELL. I RECENTLY TRADED IN THE VEHICLE AND PURCHASED A NEW ISUZU RODEO.( DOT NUMBER: )

PE00020; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: THERE IS HAIR LINE CRACK ONE HALF INCH INSIDE THE OUTSIDE DIAMETER, ALL AWAY AROUND ALL FOUR TIRES. THESE ARE FIRSTONE ATX TIRES, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT PROVIDE BY FORD. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

TIRE BLEW OUT AT 65 MPH ON HIGHWAY; TIRE HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 23575R15 )

TIRE SEPARATION OCCURED ON INTERSTATE 66, VA. I DID NOT LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING WITHIN THE SPEED LIMIT. HOWEVER, THE NOISE FROM TIRE SEPARATION CAUSED SOME EMOTIONAL STRESS. THESE TIRES ARE IDENTICAL TO "ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT" WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY REPORTED INCIDENTS WITH THESE TIRES, OR POSSIBLE RECALL. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2UUIMX034 TIRESIZE: P225/70R15)

JUST A FEW MORE DATA POINTS FOR THE FIRESTONE INVESTIGATION; TWO OF THE FIRESTONE ATX TIRES THAT CAME AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON MY 1991 FORD EXPLORER EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION IN MID 1995, CAUSING BODY DAMAGE BUT NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY. WE TOOK THE TREAD FROM ONE TO A LOCAL FIRESTONE DEALER, WHO CLAIMED IT WAS "ROAD HAZARD DAMAGE" AND THAT HE COULDN'T HELP US. THE TIRES WERE ALWAYS INFLATED TO THE PSI RECOMMENDED ON THE SIDEWALL; THEY WERE NOT UNDERINFLATED. *AK (DOT NUMBER: UNKNOWN TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1997, I WAS RETURNING HOME (DALLAS, TX) FROM A CAMPING TRIP IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO IN MY 1991 FORD EXPLORER. PRIOR TO LEAVING ON THIS TRIP, MY HUSBAND TOOK OUR EXPLORER TO THE FIRESTONE DEALERSHIP IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO HAVE ALL 4. *AK (TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

PE0020; TIRE TREAD SEPARATION: WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 50 MPH TREAD ON THE LEFT FRONT TIRE CAME OFF. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER SAFELY. THERE WAS ONE OTHER PERSON IN THE EXPLORER. NO ONE WAS INJURED. TIRE WAS SOLD WITH THE EXPLORER. OWNER NOT SURE WHAT TYPE OF FIRESTONE TIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

AT THE TIME OF TIRE FAILURE WE WEREN'T AWARE OF THE GENERAL PROBLEMS, SO WE DIDN'T KEEP THE TIRE, GET INFO ON THE DOT NUMBERS, ETC. APRIL 2000 INCIDENT, TIRE HAD A BIG BUBBLE ON IT AFTER SLIGHTLY HITTING IT ON THE CURB AT A TURN. WE REPLACED THE TIRE IMMEDIATELY. MAY INCIDENT THE CAR SKIDDED AFTER TAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN AND CAR SPUN AROUND AND HIT THE CURB. WE ASSUMED THIS WAS PURELY A SKID BECAUSE OF RAIN SLICK STREETS, BUT NOW ARE WONDERING IF THE TIRE FAILED FIRST. WE REPLACED THE TIRE AND PAID FOR OTHER DAMAGE (DAMAGE TO THE AXLE AND SEVERAL OTHER RELATED PARTS). 4 TIRES NOW ON THIS CAR ARE THE RECALLED TIRES, SO WE BELIEVE THE FAILED TIRES WERE THE RECALLED TIRES ALSO. THEY WERE BOTH WILDERNESS AT TIRES.IT NEVER OCCURED TO US TO SAVE INFO ON THE TIRES AT THAT TIME. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT A FIRESTONE DEALER HAVING THE RECALLED TIRES REPLACED.( DOT NUMBER: N/A TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED VIBRATION WHEN THE RIGHT REAR TIRE (FIRESTONE RADIAL AXT) SHREDDED. DURING ROTATION EXTENSIVE DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM, THE BODY MOULDING, THE RIGHT REAR QUARTER PANEL, THE REAR TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY, THE REAR BUMPER AND THE TAILGATE OF THE VEHICLE. *YC

I INSTALLED A LIFT KIT AND BIGGER TIRES. KNOWING THAT MY SPEEDOMETER WOULD BE OFF, I HAD A SHOP CHECK IT OUT FOR ME AND FOUND THAT WITH THE LARGER TIRES, THE SPEEDOMETER WAS ALMOST PERFECTLY MATCHED TO REAL SPEED (NEW TIRE SIZE 31X10.5X15) THIS MEANS THAT THE ORGINAL SETUP FROM THE FACTORY WAS OFF, THEREFORE INCREASING THE MILAGE SHOWN ON MY ODOMETER, WHICH HAS DECREASED THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE, AS WELL A, MAKING THE WARRANTY END AT A SOONER DATE. *AK

THESE TIRES PROVIDE NO WARNING ON WET OR SNOWY CORNERS BEFORE LOSING THEIR GRIP. TWICE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT OVERSTEERING OUT OF CONTROL; ONLY ADVANCED DRIVING SKILLS PREVENTED A ROLLOVER. SWITCHING TO ANOTHER TIRE IMMEDIATELY CURED THE PROBLEM. THIS TIRE, IN MY OPINION, IS UNSAFE IN WET OR SNOWY WEATHER.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235 R15 )

WHEN TAKING THE TIRE TO BE CHECK AND CHANGE THE TIRE STILL WEAR. TT