1998 Ford Explorer Tires

GENERAL TIRE TREAD SEPARATION FORD EXPLORER. *TR

TIRE - TREAD SEPARATION VEHICLE - FORD EXPLORER (1998) TIRES - FIRESTONE (PURCHASED SOMEWHERE IN THE 2003-2005 TIMEFRAME). THESE TIRES WERE SNOW TIRES AND ARE USED ONLY A FEW MONTHS OUT OF EACH YEAR, SO THERE IS LOW MILEAGE ON THEM. AT APPROXIMATELY 1 PM, MY DAUGHTER LEFT A SCHOOL FUNCTION IN BURBANK, WA, AND TURNED ONTO HIGHWAY 12. SHE ACCELERATED; ABOUT 100 YARDS LATER, JUST AS SHE REACHED THE SNAKE RIVER BRIDGE, THE LEFT REAR TIRE LOST ITS TREAD. SHE WAS GOING LESS THAN 50 MPH. THE CAR WAS UNCONTROLLABLE, SPUN AROUND, AND SMASHED INTO THE CONCRETE BARRIER OF THE BRIDGE. THE CAR WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED (TOTALED). NO OTHER CARS WERE INVOLVED. *TR

SPARE TIRE THAT IS SECURED TO UNDERSIDE OF VEHICLE SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD DUE TO SNAPPED CABLE. *TR

WE HAD TWO INCIDENTS OF TIRE BLOW OUTS IN 4 MONTHS THE LAST ONE OCCURRING ON OCT 12, 2008. THE CAUSE OF BOTH BLOW OUTS WAS THE TIRE STEM BUT WE DID NOT HEAR ABOUT THE RECALL UNTIL I HEARD IT ON THE NEWS TODAY. WE HAVE SINCE BOUGHT NEW TIRES AFRAID THAT IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN BUT WHAT CAN WE DO NOW? I FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD BE COMPENSATED BUT HOW? THE FORD DEALER WE BOUGHT THE TIRES FROM IS OUT OF BUSINESS SO WE COULD NOT GO THERE WHEN WE REALIZED THAT IT WAS A TIRE STEM PROBLEM AND WITHOUT KNOWING THERE WAS A RECALL WE HAD NO OPTION BUT TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE WHICH WAS AMERICAN TIRE. WE WENT TO AMERICAN TIRE BOTH TIMES IT HAPPENED FOR THEM TO FIX THE TIRES AND THEY DID NOT MENTION A RECALL EITHER. THE TIRES WERE NOT OLD ENOUGH TO BE REPLACED BUT FOR OUR OWN SAFETY WE DID THAT. I GUESS I KNOW THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO BUT JUST WANTED TO GET SOME ADVISE OF WHAT TO DO, IF ANYTHING. THANKS, PATTY P.S. NO CRASH, NO DEATHS, THANK GOODNESS *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER DISCOVERER H/T TIRES, SIZE LT235/75R15. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONTACT NOTICED DEBRIS COMING FROM THE TIRES AND THE VEHICLE, CAUSING HER TO PULL OVER ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHE NOTICED THAT THE TREAD WAS SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE, WHICH CAUSED MAJOR FRONT END DAMAGE. A SPARE TIRE WAS PLACED ON THE VEHICLE AND SHE DROVE TO HER RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED A RECALL FOR HER TIRES AND CALLED THE MANUFACTURER; HOWEVER, HER DOT NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THE TIRE HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 132,000. UPDATED 11/12/08. *LJ UPDATED 11/14/08. *JB

I WAS TRAVELING IN MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER WITH MY SON AND FIANCE TO BULLHEAD, AZ. TRAVELING EAST ON HWY40. ABOUT 30 MILES WEST OF NEEDLES, CA I EXPERIENCED A BLOWN TIRE ON MY LEFT REAR WHEEL. THESE TIRES WERE A YEAR OLD AND LATER WE DISCOVERED A NAIL IN THE TIRE. WE SAFELY MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO PUT THE SPARE TIRE ON THE LEFT REAR. THIS SPARE TIRE IS A FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE (P235/75 R 15). WE TRAVELED AGAIN FOR ABOUT 20 MILES WHEN THE SPARE TREAD SEPARATED CAUSING MY SUV TO EXPERIENCE SEVERE MOVEMENT BACK AND FORTH AND ALMOST TIPPING OVER; SLAPPING THE TREAD INTO THE REAR FENDER AND HATCH OF THE CAR. MY FIANCE MANAGED TO GET THE CAR UNDER SOMEWHAT CONTROL AND GET US OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WE WERE TRAVELING APPROX. 70 TO 72 MPH AND BECAUSE OF THE FIRST BLOWN TIRE WE ALL WERE SKIDISH AND KEEPING BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL, WHICH I FEEL WAS THE REASON WE DID NOT ROLL OVER. I CALLED AAA AND GOT TOWED TO NEEDLES, CA WHERE WE GOT A NEW TIRE ON THE SPARE WHICH COST $175.00. WE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL UP HWY95 TO BULLHEAD CITY, AZ, APPROX. 15 MILES, WHERE OUR HOUSE WAS. JULY 3 WE WENT TO SUPERIOR TIRES AND BOUGHT 4 NEW GOODYEAR TIRES. I AM LEFT WITH A DAMAGED REAR FENDER AND A DAMAGED HATCH DO TO THE FIRESTONE TIRE TREAD SEPARATION. *TR

1998 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING EAST ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE IN THE CENTER LANE WHEN THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WENT FLAT WHICH CAUSED HIM TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE GOING OFF THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD INTO A DITCH. *MC THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE CASING WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT)*JB

1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT WITH TIRES THAT WERE RECALLED **CC THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS DENIED NEW TIRES. THE TIRES THAT ARE ON THE VEHICLE WERE RECALLED. *JB

I HAD 4 OF THE FIRESTONE TIRES ON MY EXPLORER WHEN I HEARD OF THE POTENTIAL DANGER. I REMOVED THEM IMMEDIATELY (MY WIFE AND CHILD WERE USING THAT CAR) BEFORE THEY WERE RECALLED. FIRESTONE REFUSES TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THEM BECAUSE I TOOK THEM OFF BEFORE THE RECALL. *NM

I RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER PERTAINING TO THE TIRES ON MY VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES DUE TO A BLOW OUT THAT HAD OCCURRED ALL TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE PRIOR TO THE LETTER. I DO STILL CARRY THE P255/70R16 WILDERNESS AS A SPARE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF I AM ENTITLED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF MY TIRES. *JB

DT: THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT. HAD FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES ON VEHICLE. WENT FOR INSPECTION AND FAILED BECAUSE THE TIRES WERE RECALLED. HE CONTACTED FORD AS WELL AS FIRESTONE, AND THEY TOLD HIM THE RECALL WAS OVER AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE TIRE SIZE WAS P235/70R16. THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE SPLIT BETWEEN THE THREADS, AND SIDEWALLS. IT WAS LIKE THEY WERE SEPARATING ON ALL FIVE OF THE TIRES, INCLUDING THE SPARE TIRE. *AK *NM

THE LEFT REAR TIRE EXPLODED. GOODYEAR, WRANGLER RT-5 P235/75.R16 TIRES ARE REGULARLY SERVICED. THERE WAS NO VIBRATION PRIOR TO EXPLOSION. NO BULGING IN THE TIRES. TIRES JUST CHECKED 3 WEEKS AGO. 40 MPH ON HIGHWAY, CLEAR WEATHER. NO PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRES BEFORE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S FRONT TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE WHEEL. THE DRIVER WA ABLE TO CHANGE THE TIRE. FIRESTONE LT P18575R14 #DOT VNJ7791. THE DRIVER CONTACTED THE FIRESTONE TO MAKE A APPOINTMENT FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE TIRES. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *TR

WHILE DRIVING A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER'S FRONT AND REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, AND THE TREAD CAME OFF. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS A/T, P225/75R15, DOTW1345600.

TIRE FAILURE ON LEFT REAR TIRE. *MR THIS OCCURRED WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY SHREDDED.*SC THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE FIRESTONE TIRES WITH GOODYEAR TIRES BECAUSE OF THE RECALL HE HEARD ABOUT IN JULY 2001. THE TIRES THAT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE WERE GOODYEAR TIRES AND THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE REPLACED ALL THE TIRES WITH MICHELINS. *JB

MY HUSBAND, NINE YEAR OLD NEPHEW AND I WERE DRIVING BACK FROM OUR SUMMER VACATION. THE NIGHT BEFORE OUR ACTUAL ACCIDENT, OUR FRONT RIGHT TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION. MY HUSBAND PUT THE SPARE ON AND WE WENT ON TO OUR HOTEL. THE NEXT DAY OUR LEFT REAR TIRE HAD TREAD SEPARATION AND FORCED MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER SPORT ONTO THE MEDIAN. SOMEWHERE DURING THAT OUR RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. THEN WE ROLLED OVER THREE TIMES. WE WERE TRAVELING THE SPEED LIMIT AT 70 MPH. WE STRONGLY FEEL THAT THE DUNLOP TIRES WERE THE CAUSE OF THIS ACCIDENT. MY EXPLORER WAS A TOTAL LOSS. DESPITE THE EVENTS, MY HUSBAND NEPHEW AND I WALKED AWAY WITH ONLY SCRATCHES AND MINOR CUTS. I THANK FORD FOR THAT. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO MENTION THAT ABOUT A YEAR AGO I HAD TO REPLACE ONE OF THE DUNLOP TIRES FOR TREAD SEPARATION. I RECEIVED ANOTHER TIRE. THAT TIRE WHICH WAS ON THE FRONT LEFT AND THE SPARE (WHICH WAS A FIRESTONE) DID NOT GIVE OUT BUT BASICALLY THE FOUR DUNLOP TIRES THAT I PURCHASED, I STRONGLY FEEL, WERE DEFECTIVE. *JB

STOCK JACK WITH FORD EXPLORER WILL NOT ALLOW THE TIRE TO BE CHANGED. ALSO FOUND DEALER DID NOT REPLACE RECALL FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT RECALLED TIRE AS PER INVOICE. TIRE EXPLODED AND RUINED. NEAR MISS 16 WHEELER. *JB

WHILE DRIVING THE SIDEWALL BLEW OUT OF MY BRIDGESTONE TIRE. *AK

THE RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER. (TIRE BY MICHELIN) THERE WAS A CUT FOUND IN THE INSIDE OF THE SIDEWALL. *JB THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT, VEERED HARSHLY TO THE RIGHT, AND THE RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD SHREDDED, WHICH WAS A FIRESTONE TIRE. (THE FRONT TIRES WERE MOVED TO THE REAR AND REPLACED THE FRONT TIRES WITH THE SPARE A NEW TIRE. IN OCTOBER 2000, ALL OF THE TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH MICHELIN TIRES) *SCC

WHILE DRIVING 98 FORD EXPLORER SPORT .AFTER ABOUT 2 HOURS OF HIGHWAY DRIVING AT 65 MPH THE REAR PASSANGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT.TIRE WAS A GOODYEAR WRANGLER RT/S 255/70R16.TIRE SEPERATED FROM SIDEWALL 3/4 OF THE WAY AROUND.HAD RAGGED EDGE LIKE IT WAS PULLED APART.TIRE DEFECTIVE ? LOOKED LIKE DRY ROT.98 EXPLORER HAS 49,000 MILES ON IT .NOT SURE IF TIRES WERE ORIGINAL EGUITMENT.BOUGHT CAR USED.*AK

A COOPER TIRE'S [DISCOVERER H/T-SIZE P235/75 I5 M+S-DOT UTHL G5U4700 M5R] TREAD CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING HWY 95 IN NEVADA. IT DID APPROX. $2500.00 DAMAGE TO MY 98 FORD EXPLORER'S LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL.. COOPER ORIGINALLY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO PAY FOR DAMAGES.THEY BLAME UNDERINFLATION AND THAT IS A BIG LIE. I CHECKED THE PRESSURE THAT VERY SAME DAY!*AK

LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES. *AK

WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75MPH WHEN THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE STEERED TOWARDS A HILL AND BOUNCED OFF IT. THE VEHICLE THEN ROLLED OVER AND LANDED ONTO THE LANE, ON ITS ROOF. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT; SIZE P255 70R16. TS

WHILE DRIVING, FIRESTONE WILDERNESS HT, P225/70R15 BELT INSIDE IS BROKE, AND TREAD LOOKS LIKE IT WILL SEPARATE FROM THE TIRE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AKTHE VEHICLE IS A 1998 FORD TRUCK EXPLORER. *JG

DRIVER WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WITH THREE PASSENGERS IN A 1998 EXPLORER WHEN THE RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD A BLOWOUT. AFTER MARKET EQUIPMENT. INSTALL AT 29,17 MILES, TIRE SIZE 235/75R/15. DOT # UNAVAILABLE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURERS WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR