NHTSA Complaint #707346 — 1996 FORD EXPLORER

THE FRONT TIRES HAVE"CUPPED" WITHIN 2000 MILES OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER AND TO GOODYEAR OVER THIS ISSUE. I HAVE NOTICED THAT BRAKING TAKES LONGER TO ACCOMPLISH BECAUSE OF THE UNEVEN WEAR PATTERN THAT HAS DEVELOPED. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE 2 TIRES AT 46,000 MLES(AS COMPARED WITH 70,000 MILES ON A 1992 EXPLORER THAT I OWNED THAT WAS EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE TIRES). GOODYEAR HAS TOLD ME THAT I HAVE TO ROTATE MY TIRES EVERY3,000 MILES TO PREVENT THIS WEAR PATTERN. I BELIEVE THIS IS EXCESSIVE MAINTENANCE AND COST TO THE CONSUMER. GOODYEAR HAS ALSO TOLD ME THAT THESE TIRES WERE NOT ENGINEERED FOR THIS VEHICLE, BUT FORD EQUPIPED THESE VEHICLES WITH THESE TIRES AS STANDARD EQUIPMENT IN 1996. I'VE NOTICED THAT SINCE1997, FORD HAS GONE BACK TO FIRESTONE TIRES FOR EXPLORERS. I HAVE CALLED THE FORD CONSUMER HOT LINE. I SPOKE WITH THE PERSON ANSWERING THE CALLS AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD I WOULD HEAR FROM A FORD REP, BUT AFTER A YEAR I HAVE HEARD NOTHING. GOODYEAR HAS LOOKED AT ALL MECHANICAL COMPONENTS, INCLUDING SUSPENSION BUSHING AND ALIGNMENT THAT COULD BE CAUSING THIS PROBLEM AND HAS FOUND NOTHING WRONG. I BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM MAY BE INHERENT TO FORD PUTTING TIRES ON THIS AUTMOBILE THAT ARE NOT MATCHED TO THE VEHICAL SUSPENSION. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )