NHTSA Complaint #726944 — 1998 FORD EXPLORER

THE TIRES LOOK FINE (PLENTY OF TREAD). I HAVE MY CAR SERVICED AS FORD SUGGESTS (THEY SEND A REMINDER LETTER) - THIS INCLUDES TIRE ROTATIONS, ALIGNMENT ETC. THE DAMAGED TIRES LOOK LIKE RETREADS, THOUGH I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW AND THE TIRE WARRANTY INDICATES 6 YEARS OR 2/32NDS OF AN INCH OF TREAD DEPTH - NEITHER OF WHICH HAD BEEN REACHED. I HAVE REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES, HOWEVER I HAVE KEPT THE OLD ONES. FIRESTONE HAS REQUESTED WE SEND BACK THE DAMAGED ONES SO THEY MAY DETERMINE IF A REIMBURSMENT IS WARRANTED. WHEN WE CALLED FIRESTONE/CERRITOS (8/1) THEY INSISTED THE TIRES HAD TOO MANY MILES AND WERE NOT DEFECTIVE (THEY DIDN'T SEE THE TIRES) - AFTER NOT ACCEPTING THAT RESPONSE AND PERSISTING THEY WERE DEFECTIVE, WE WERE GIVEN A TOLL FREE NUMBER TO FIRESTONE. FIRESTONE MAILED US A CLAIM FORM WITH INSTRUCTIONS. SHOULD WE PROCEED WITH COMPLETING THE CLAIM AND SEND BACK THE TIRES?*AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHLIPY487 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )