NHTSA Complaint #10490407 — 2007 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER

DISCOUNT TIRE COMPANY INFORMED ME THAT THEY HAD A TECHNICAL BULLETIN - WHEEL ADVISORY THAT SAID; "DO SERVICE THE MERCURY MOUNTAINEER 18" OE WHEELS (2005 AND NEWER) THEY FOUND IN TESTING THAT THE FRONT BEAD HUMP HAS A RIDGE ON THE BALCONY LEDGE WHICH CAN CAUSE BEAD DAMAGE WHEN MOUNTING. TESTS WERE CONDUCTED WHERE SEVERAL TYPES OF TIRES WERE MOUNTED AND INFLATED ON THE OE WHEELS. THE ONLY TIRE THEY WERE ABLE TO SEAT AT (50PSI) WAS THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MICHELIN. AFTER MOUNTING AND FOUND THAT IT HAD A DAMAGED BEAD. DURING THE TEST, THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO GET A TIRE TO SEAT WITHOUT DAMAGING THE BEAD. THE RECOMMENDATION: DO NOT SERVICE THESE WHEELS. CENTRAL FLORIDA LINCOLN DEALER (FORMERLY CENTRAL FLORIDA LINCOLN MERCURY) DID NOT HAVE ANY SERVICE BULLETIN ON THIS PROBLEM. THE ONLY WAY I COULD GET NEW TIRES FOR MY MERCURY MOUNTAINEER WAS TO BUY NEW 17" WHEELS AND HAVE NEW TIRES MOUNTED ON THEM. *TR