NHTSA Complaint #728433 — 2000 FORD EXPLORER

MY SUV HAS HYDROPLANED ON TWO OCCASIONS DURING INTERSTATE TRAVEL. THIS OCCURRED ONCE IN LIGHT RAIN AT APPROX. 65 MPH & ONCE DURING MODERATE-HEAVY RAIN AT 55 MPH. DURING THE HEAVY RAIN, I SLIDE INTO ANOTHER LANE (I WAS NOT BRAKING AT THE TIME). I DID NOT HIT ANOTHER CAR. DURING RAIN, THE TIRES FEEL AS IF THEY ARE NOT GRIPPING THE PAVEMENT. THIS TIRE HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED;HOWEVER, AFTER SPEAKING WITH OTHER EXPLORER OWNERS WITH NON-RECALLED TIRES, I HAVE HEARD MANY SIMILAR STORIES. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS TIRE OR IT'S THE WRONG TIRE FOR THE EXPLORER. I HAVE CALLED BOTH FIRESTONE AND THE FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED. ON 8/18/00, I PAID $551.75 FOR NEW GOODYEAR TIRES WITH SPECIAL WET TRACTION FEATURES. SAFETY WAS THE MOTIVATING FACTOR EVEN THOUGH THIS IS AN EXPENDITURE I CAN NOT AFFORD. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THESE TIRES SHOULD BE PART OF THE RECALL!( DOT NUMBER: W2HLIPY020 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )