NHTSA Complaint #730198 — 1997 FORD EXPLORER

I HAVE A 97 FORD EXPLORER - THE TIRES ON MY SUV NOW ARE DIRECT FROM FIRESTONE. I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT FACTORY TIRES THAT I HAD ORIGINALLY DID IN FACT 'ALMOST' SPLIT. BY THE TIME I HAD THEM REPLACED (AT AROUND 50,000 MILES) THERE WAS A 6" LINE OF STEEL SHOWING THROUGH RUBBER ON THE INSIDE SIDEWALL ON THE BACK TWO TIRES. I'M VERY GLAD THAT I GOT THEM REPLACED WHEN I DID - BUT I THOUGHT THAT THIS INFORMATION MIGHT BE OF SOME HELP. THE ONLY SYMPTOM THAT I HAD WAS A SHAKE IN MY CAR ONCE I HIT 70 MPH. IF I HAD NOT DONE ANY HIGHWAY DRIVING I NEVER WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE. (EXCEPT FOR HAVING IT SERVICED AND LIFTED - REGULAR MAINTANCE WOULD NOT HAVE REQUIRED SOMEONE LOOKING AT THAT INSIDE SIDEWALL. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )