NHTSA Complaint #730662 — 1997 FORD EXPLORER

I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING 65 MPH AT THE TIME WHEN I THOUGHT THERE WAS A FUNNY NOISE, THEN I STARTED TO SWERVE, BUT KEPT IT UNDER CONTROL, SLOWED DOWN AND PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN A DRIVEWAY. WHEN I HAD LEFT MY HOME THAT MORNING I HAD FELT A FUNNY VIBRATION, BUT HAD FIGURED IT WAS JUST A TIRE OUT OF BALANCE AND ON THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FARTHER I DROVE THE WORSE THE VIBRATION GOT, TO THE POINT MY SEAT BELT WAS "ENGAGED" ALL THE TIME. I WAS DRESSED UP, GOING OUT OF TOWN TO A RECEPTION, THE TIRES WERE FAIRLY NEW WITH CORRECT AIR PRESSURE AND PLENTY OF TREAD LEFT. I DO NOT ENJOY CHANGING TIRES, ESPECIALLY ON AN EXPLORER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN NICE CLOTHES IN THE MIST. I KEEP GOOD TIRES ON MY VEHICLES, IN FACT THESE WERE 6-PLY TIRES SINCE I LIVE IN THE COUNTRY. TWO GOOD SAMARATINS STOPPED AND CHANGED THE TIRE FOR ME (AND PUT ON MY SPARE WHICH IS NOW IN THE RECALL!) AND THEY SAID THE TIRES WERE WORN FUNNY AND THE TREAD WAS SPLIT. I NO LONGER HAVE THAT TIRE, BUT I HAVE THE ONE THAT WAS PURCHASED AT THE SAME TIME, IF ANYONE WOULD CARE TO LOOK AT IT. I REPLACED THOSE TIRES WITH 6-PLY KELLY TIRES AND PUT THENM ON THE FRONT. THREE WEEKS AGO, I NOTICED SOME STRANGE SPLITS IN THE SIDEWALLS OF MY REMAINING 2 BRIDESTONE TIRES, NOW ON THE BACK OF THE EXPLORER. I SHOWED THEM TO A MECHANIC WHO SAID I WOULD BE WISE TO GET THEM REPLACED. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED THEM WITH 2 MORE 6-PLY KELLY TIRES. WHEN I RECIEVED MY RECALL NOTICE I NOTICED THAT, EVEN THOUGH THESE WERE BRIDGESTONES AND 6-PLY TIRES, THE SYMPTOMS OF THE TREAD FAILURE WERE THE SAME AND I DECIDED TO REPORT IT TO SOMEONE. I HOPE YOU CAN USE THIS INFORMATION TO HELP OTHE PEOPLE AVOID SCARY SITUATIONS ON THE HIGHWAY. THANK YOU.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )