NHTSA Complaint #727402 — 1992 FORD EXPLORER

TRAVELING INTERSTATE HIGHWAY BETWEEN FLORIDA AND VIRGINIA MY 1992 FORD EXPLORER STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY. IT FELT LIKE I WAS LOSING A WHEEL. I STOPPED AND CHECKED THE WHEELS OUT AND EVERYTHING LOOKED OK. WE PROCEEDED CAUTIOUSLY TO OUR DESTINATION OF ABINGDON, VIRGINIA. I ULTIMATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FIRESTONE DEALER IN BRISTOL, TN. AND WAS TOLD THE STEEL BELTS HAD SEPERATED AND NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TIRES. THERE WAS 10/32 OF TREAD STILL REMAINING ON THE TIRES WHEN I HAD TO REPLACE THEM AND HAD TO PAY 195.00. THE TIRES HAD ALWAYS BEEN CAREFULLY MAINTAINED WITH PROPER INFLATION AND ROTATED EVERY 5000 MILES. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED WITH FIRESTONE ATX TIRES AND ON 06/29/99 @ 34383 MILES THEY WERE AGAIN REPLACED BECAUSE OF FAILURE AND THIS TIME WILDERNESS AT TIRES WERE USED.( DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRE SIZE: P235/75/15 )