NHTSA Complaint #730225 — 1997 FORD EXPLORER

THE TIRES HAVE LARGE CRACKS WHERE THE TREAD TIES TO THE CASING AT EACH LUG. THERE IS A SEPARATION CLEAR AROUND ON BOTH SIDES OF THE TIRES WHERE THE STEEL BELT ENDS. ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE SMALL CRAZING CRACKS ALL OVER THEM. THE TREADS ALL HAVE SEVERE CRACKING THROUGHOUT. I HAD THE TIRES REMOVED FROM MY VEHICLE ON AUG. 16, 2000 DUE TO THE FIRESTONE TIRE RECALL. AT THE TIME, I DID NOT KNOW THAT JUST THE TIRES WITH DOT # VDHL WERE INVOLVED. I STILL HAVE THE TIRES, BUT I AM GOING TO HAVE THEM LOOKED AT BY THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. I FEEL THAT I WAS VERY LUCKY NOT TO HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THESE TIRES WHILE THEY WERE ON MY EXPLORER. I THINK MY ONLY SAVING FACTOR WAS THAT I DO NOT DRIVE AT EXCESSIVLY HIGH SPEEDS.( DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )