1997 FORD EXPLORER Tiressidewall Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE HAS COOPER TRAILCAT ALL SEASON TIRES (235/75R15). WHILE REPLACING THE BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED SIDEWALL SEPARATION ON ALL FOUR TIRES. HE WAS INFORMED THAT HIS DOT NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01T014000 (TIRES:SIDEWALL). THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,731 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,700.

I BOUGHT 4 NEW DUELER ALENZAS FROM TIRES PLUS ON APALACHAEE PARKWAY ON OR ABOUT 11-2-2006 WHICH ARE OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE, SUBSTANDARD AND/OR RECALLED TIRES, AND THEY WILL NOT REPLACE THEM OR SWAP OUT FOR A BETTER TIRE. FOUR (4) OTHER BRIDGESTONE DEALERS IN TALLAHASSEE ALSO WILL NOT HONOR THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY: SEARS-0% TRADE-IN VALUE, DISCOUNT TIRES-35% TRADE IN VALUE, TIRES PLUS ON CAPITAL CIRCLE-OBVIOUSLY WERE DEFECTIVE; FIRESTONE ON APALACHEE PARKWAY-OBVIOUSLY ARE DEFECTIVE. THE FORD/CHEVY DEALERSHIPS WILL NOT GIVE ME A DIME ON A TRADE-IN, 1997 FORD EXPLORER. THE TIRES HAVE BULGED AT THE BOTTOM AFTER 1 WEEK, IT FEELS LIKE I AM DRIVING ON MUSH, MY FORD SHIMMIES AND ROLLS TO THE LEFT IF I GET OVER 50 MPH. I HAVE RETURNED TO TIRES PLUS ALMOST EVERY TIME I DROVE MY EXPLORER AFTER GETTING THE NEW DUELERS SINCE 11-2-06, AND ON 1-29-07 TIRES PLUS FINALLY REPLACED THE LEFT REAR TIRE...

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY. THE SIDEWALL DRYROTTED ACCORDING TO THE TIRE DEALER. THE TIRES HAD ABOUT 50000 MILES OF USE ON THEM BEFORE THE BLOWOUT. THE TIRES WERE RECOMMENDED AT 50 PSI AND WERE REGULARLY CHECKED FOR AIR PRESSURE. THE TIRES HAD BEEN REGULARLY ROTATED. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS NO VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING HOWEVER A BULGE WAS NOTICED ON IT MINUTES BEFORE IT POPPED. THE TIRE WAS A MICHELIN, SIZE LT23575R15.

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT, THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE(MICHELIN LTX M/S). *JG

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT, THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE(MICHELIN LTX M/S). *JG

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE RIGHT REAR TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT, THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE(MICHELIN LTX M/S). *JG

REAR DRIVER'S FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE P235/75R15 BLEWOUT ON 3 DIFFERENT SPOTS ON SIDEWALL, CAUSING DAMAGE TO VEHICLE, THERE ARE STRESS MARKS COMING FROM THE RIM AND UP ON OTHER TIRES. *SLC

FAULTY FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES CAUSED VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING AND CONSUMER NOTICED CRACKS IN THE SIDEWALL, CONSUMER REPLACED THE TIRES. NLM

1997, FORD, EXPLORER, FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES SIZE P235/75R15 DOT#VNHL1PY027, ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. CONSUMER NOTICED TIRES WERE CRACKING ALL AROUND SIDEWALL WHERE THEY WOULD HAVE SEPARATED, BUT CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES.*AK *SLC

GOODYEAR WRANGLER RTS TIRES P235 75 R15 EXPERIENCED HUMPS ON SIDEWALLS. *SLC

I HAVE BEEN INSPECTING THESE TIRES ON A WEEKLY BASIS SINCE THE PROBLEMS WITH WILDERNESS AT'S BECAME PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE. THE SUBJECT TIRE ARE NOT PART OF THE RECALL BECAUSE THEY WERE MANUFACTURED IN CANADA. THIS WEEKEND I NOTICED CRACKING WHERE THE TREAD AND SIDEWALL MEET. IT APPEARS THAT THIS WILL LEAD TO TRREAD SEPARATION. I HAVE REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS TIME FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO FORCE FIRESTONE TO RECALL ALL WILDERNESS AT'S REGARDLESS OF THE SIZE OR THE MANUFACTURING FACILITY. FIRESTONE HAS REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE REPLACEMENT TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRE SIZE: P235/75/15 )

I HAVE BEEN INSPECTING THESE TIRES ON A WEEKLY BASIS SINCE THE PROBLEMS WITH WILDERNESS AT'S BECAME PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE. THE SUBJECT TIRE ARE NOT PART OF THE RECALL BECAUSE THEY WERE MANUFACTURED IN CANADA. THIS WEEKEND I NOTICED CRACKING WHERE THE TREAD AND SIDEWALL MEET. IT APPEARS THAT THIS WILL LEAD TO TRREAD SEPARATION. I HAVE REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS TIME FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO FORCE FIRESTONE TO RECALL ALL WILDERNESS AT'S REGARDLESS OF THE SIZE OR THE MANUFACTURING FACILITY. FIRESTONE HAS REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE REPLACEMENT TIRES. (DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRESIZE: P235/75/15)

SINCE NEW, THE TIRES IN QUESTION HAVE BUBBLES ON EVERY SIDEWALL. AND THE TIRES ARE ALREADY CRACKING.*AK (TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

PE00 020; WAS CHECKING TIRES AND NOTICED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES ARE CRACKING ALL AROUND THE SIDEWALLS. FIRESTONE, WILDERNESS#AT, P25570R16, DOT VNCU1TX237. HE WILL GET IN TOUCH WITH FIRESTONE.*AK

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES P235/75R15 DOT VNHL EXPERIENCING CRACK ON SIDEWALL AT THE BASE OF THE TREAD, TIRE HAVE BEEN ROTATED EVERY 4000 MILES. *SLC

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...

THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT ON SIDEWALL JUST BELOW THE TREAD. THE TIRE DID NOT GO FLAT ALL AT A SUDDEN, BUT SLOW ENOUGH FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO KEEP CONTROL OF AUTO. THE FAILURE BEING SO CLOSE TO THE TREAD AND BEING THAT THIS SERIES OF TIRES IS IN QUESTION I FEEL THAT A REPORT SHOULD BE MADE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: W2HLRININT TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

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...

1997 FORD, EXPLORER WITH ORIGINAL TIRES. APPROXIMATE MILEAGE 38,000, TIRE SIZE P235/75R15, AND DOT#W2HL. ALL 4 TIRES WERE DRY ROTTEN COMPLETELY AROUND SIDEWALL OF THE TIRES.*AK

PLEASE ACCEPT THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION REGARDING THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT (P235/75R15) DOT SERIES "VNHL". I HAVE A SERIES OF SPLIT SIDEWALL CRACKS THAT IS APPROXIMATELY 1/2-INCH DOWN FROM THE TOP OF THE SIDEWALL THAT RUN THE ENTIRE CIRCUMFRANCE OF THE TIRE ON BOTH THE "INSIDE" AND "OUTSIDE" ON ALL FOUR (4) TIRE'S. I HAVE NEVER DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE OFF-ROAD OR ABOVE 70-75MPH. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED AT 32PSI COLD AND HAVE 28,000 MILES. THE TIRE TREAD IS IN VERY GOOD SHAPE AND STILL HAS OVER 10/32" (5/16") OF TREAD REMAINING. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY FORD AS A LEASED VEHICLE AND IS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE. THIS IS NOT A DAILY DRIVER AND HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVEN FOR MORE THAN 450 MILES ONE WAY, OR FOR MORE THAN 5-HOURS AT ANYONE TIME. THE SERIES OF CRACKS WERE NOT PRESENT WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND HAS OCCURED OVER THE...

THE SIDEWALL FAILED ON THIS TIRE. TO DATE TWO OTHER TIRES ARE SHOWING SIMILAR DAMAGE. I AM A PRETTY GOOD DRIVER AND DO NOT RUB MY TIRES ON CURBS, ETC. IT IS ALMOST LIKE THE SIDEWALL IS PEELING AWAY EXPOSING A WHITE LAYER BENEATH. NATURALLY THE RECENT NEWS PROMPTED THIS RESPONSE, BUT MY CONCERNS ARE VERY REAL. THANK YOU AND KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK - I SLEEP BETTER AT NIGHT KNOWING YOU ARE PROTECTING MY FAMILY'S INTERESTS. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 23575R15 )

ALL 4 FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES P255/70R16 ARE CRACKING ON THE SIDEWALLS, CRACKS BEGIN WHERE THE TREAD STARTS, DOT W2CU. *SLC

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE P235/75R15 DOT VNHL1P1486 WENT FLAT DUE TO SIDEWALL SEPARATION. *SLC

ON JULY 21 2000, WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRE P23575R15 BLEWOUT, AND WHOLE SIDEWALL HAD COME OFF. CONSUMER MAINTAINED CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *AK THE BLOWOUT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *SLC

ALL FOUR TIRES WERE SHOWING A CRACKS ALL THE WAY AROUND THE SIDEWALLS. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC ADVISED HIM TO HAVE TIRES REPLACED SOON AS POSSIBLE. TIRES REPLACED BY DEALER AT NO COST. *AK *ML