NHTSA Complaint #10066570 — 2003 FORD EXCURSION

I SPOKE TO FORD & FIRESTONE ABOUT THE VOLUNTARY SAFETY CAMPAIGN. WHEN I SPOKE TO FORD ON THE FIRST OCCASSION, I WAS TOLD THAT THE ORIGINAL TIRE SIZE ON MY EXCURSION WAS LT265/75R16. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE REPLACEMENT AFFECTED THE "D" LOAD RANGE TIRES. I SPOKE WITH FIRESTONE AND THEY INSTRUCTED ME TO CONTACT ONE OF THE FIRESTONE CORPORATE STORES AND VISIT THE STORE TO GET THE TIRES REPLACED. I PROCEED TO THE STORE, FIRESTONE EMPLOYEE ORDERS THE TIRES. THE TIRES COME IN FOR INSTALLATION. I VISIT THE STORE TO HAVE THE TIRES INSTALLED, AND THEY TELL ME THAT THIS EXACT TIRE IS NOT PART OF THE SAFETY PROGRAM. FORD EXPLAINED TO ME THAT AN "E" LOAD RANGE TIRE IS WHAT IS BEING REPLACED IN THE SAFETY PROGRAM. AN "E" LOAD RANGE TIRE IS A 10 PLY TIRE. A "D" LOAD RANGE TIRE IS AN 8 PLY TIRE. IF FIRESTONE IS REPLACING THE OTHER STEELTEX RADIAL "D" LOAD RANGE TIRES WITH AN "E" LOAD RANGE, HOW IS IT POSSIBLY SAFE FOR ME TO HAVE A "D" LOAD RANGE TIRE ON A HEAVIER TRUCK THAT HAS A DIESEL MOTOR? MY EXACT TIRE IS A STEELTEX RADIAL R4S LT265/75R16 AND IT HAS A "D" LOAD RANGE. IF THE OTHER "D" LOAD RANGE TIRES ARE UNSAFE BECAUSE THEY ARE THE WRONG LOAD RANGE, WHY ARE MY EXACT TIRES NOT BEING REPLACED? I DO NOT WANT TO HAVE A CRASH, FIRE, FATALITY, OR TIRE FAILURE BECAUSE THE INCORRECT TIRE IS ON MY TRUCK. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT CAPACITIES A "D" LOAD RANGE TIRE COVERS WITH THE TRUCK'S GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT AND THE TRUCK'S GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT WHEN TOWING THE MAXIMUM CAPACITY. I DO TOW A HEAVY BOAT AND I WANT TO BE ASSURED THAT I HAVE THE RIGHT TIRES ON THE TRUCK. IF FORD OR FIRESTONE PUT INCORRECT TIRES ON THE TRUCK THAT ARE A SAFETY HAZARD, I WANT THE PROPER TIRES REPLACED BY FORD OR FIRESTONE AND INSTALLED ON MY TRUCK. WILL YOU PROVIDE ANSWERS TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS VIA E-MAIL OR IN WRITING TO THE ADDRESS OR E-MAIL ADDRESS INCLUDED? THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP IN INVESTIGATING THIS MATTER. MONTE BRACKETT . *AK