1998 FORD EXPLORER Tires Problems

CONSUMER WAS DENIED REFUND FOR THE COST OF REPLACEMENT TIRES BECAUSE THEY WERE PURCHASED PRIOR TO JANUARY 1, 2000, THE TIRES WERE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY CAUSE POOR HANDLING IN THE VEHICLE, ONCE REPLACED THE VEHICLE HANDLED PERFECTLY. NLM

I AM UNCLEAR AS TO WHETHER MY FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES NEED TO BE REPLACED. I HAD A FLAT LAST WEEK AND THE TIRE WAS ALMOST OFF THE RIM JUST FROM THE FLAT! DO I NEED TO REPLACE JUST THE SPARE OR ALL 5 TIRES? APPARENTLY, MY TIRES WERE MANUFACTURED IN A TN PLANT BUT NONETHELESS, FIRESTONE AND FORD COMBINED DO NOT INSTILL ANY CONFIDENCE. THANKS FOR GETTING BACK WITH ME. YOU MAY EMAIL ME IF IT IS MORE EXPEDITIOUS. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

THESE TIRES WERE NOT UNDER THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURES RECALL, HOWEVER, I RECENTLY HAD THE TIRES INSPECTED BY A FIRESTONE REPRESENTATIVE BECAUSE OF SOME CONCERNS WE HAD WITH THE INTEGRETY OF THE TIRES. FIRESTONE ACKNOWLEGED THAT ALL FOUR OF MY TIRES ARE SEPERATING WHERE THE TREAD IS GLUED TO THE BODY OF THE TIRE, JUST WHERE THESE TIRES ARE COMING APART AND KILLING PEOPLE. FIRESTONE WILL NOT REPLACE THE TIRES EVEN AFTER ADMITING THAT THEY ARE DEFECTIVE. THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME OVER 300 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THEM. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG HERE AND I NEED SOME HELP. I'VE SPENT HOURS ON THE PHONE WITH FIRESTONE AND FORD, ONLY TO HAVE WASTED MY TIME. THANKS. *AK (TIRESIZE: 235/75R/15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235/75R/15 )

FIRESTONE WOILDERNESS AT TIRES CAUSED VIBRATION AND NOISE WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

CONSUMER WAS DENIED REFUND FOR THE COST OF REPLACEMENT TIRES BECAUSE THEY WERE PURCHASED PRIOR TO JANUARY 1, 2000, THE TIRES WERE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY CAUSE POOR HANDLING IN THE VEHICLE, ONCE REPLACED THE VEHICLE HANDLED PERFECTLY. NLM

LEFT REAR TIRE LOOSES AIR PRESSURE. NLM

CONSUMER HAD FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (DOT#W2HL) ON VEHICLE, THE TIRES MADE A THUMPING NOISE AND THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A ROUGH RIDE, THE TIRES WERE LOOKED AT BY A DEALER THAT STATED THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE BALANCED AND ROTATED, HOWEVER AFTER REPAIR THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED, CONSUMER REPLACED THE TIRES ON HER OWN AND IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT TIRES AND FOR THE UNNECESSARY REPAIRS MADE DUE TO THE FAULTY TIRES. *SLC

THE CONSUMER HAS FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (P235/75R15) ON VEHICLE, WHILE DRIVING ON WET (NOT RAINING) ROADS THE VEHICLE HAS HYDROPLANED ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. *SLC

IN TODAY'S NEWSPAPER FIRESTONE SAYS THAT ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THE WILDERNESS AT TIRE (DECATUR PLANT) FAILED IS BEACUS OF CRACKING ON THE SHOULDER. I HAD NOTED SHOULDER CRACKING ON THIS VEHICLE WHEN THE DECATUR TIRES (AND I HAD LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON THE TIRES) WERE RECALLED. BUT, TOOK THIS NOT TO BE A PROBLEM SINCE THE CANADIAN VERSION OF THE TIRES WERE NOT RECALLED. WHEN I CONTACTED FIRESTONE BY E-MAIL THEY REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. IT DOES NOT SEEM THAT THESE TIRES WOULD BE SAFE IF THEY WERE CRACKING THE SAME AS THE DECATUR TIRES BUT MAYBE THEY ARE. HOW DO I ADDRESS THIS? *AK (TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

THE TIRE HAD A CRACK ALL AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE BELT. MY REGULAR TIRE STORE INDICATED THAT THIS WAS THE BEGINNING OF A TREAD SEPARATION. THE TIRE WAS BUILT IN WILSON NORTH CAROLINA. THE AUTHORIZED FIRESTONE TIRE STORE REPLACED IT WITH NO CHARGE. *AK (TIRESIZE: P23575R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P23575R15 )

CUSTOMERS STARTED OBSERVING WEAR OF FRONT RIGHT TIRE APRIL/2000. SPARE TIRE WAS PLACED ON VEHICLE. NOW, FRONT LEFT TIRE HAS WOREN OUT AS WELL, IT WAS FIRST OBSERVED IN AUG./2000. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2HL TIRESIZE: 235/15)

THIS TIRE BLEW OUT DURING NORMAL USE WHILE UNDER WARRANTY MILEAGE....THERE WAS NO PUNCTURE FOUND AND NO SHARP OBJECT THAT PIERCED THE TIRE. A LARGE ROUND HOLE WAS FOUND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TIRE. THE DRIVER DID NOT HIT ANYTHING..IT HAPPENED DURING TRAVEL ON A CLEARED AND CLEAN AND DRY SOUTHERN HIGHWAY. *AK (TIRESIZE: P255/70R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

I HAVE THE DEFECTIVE TIRES IF REVIEW IS NEEDED. *AK (DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRESIZE: 235/75R15)

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP & WAS INFORMED TIRES WERE FEATHERED, IRREGULAR TREAD, ON LEFT REAR /RIGHT FRONT. LAST YEAR RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS DRY ROTTED AND WENT FLAT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. TIRES STILL ON VEHICLE. FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT, P235/75R15. *AK *SLC

I HAD NOTED THAT MY TIRES WERE ALL FOUR LOOKING BAD FOR NO MORE MILES THAN I HAD ON THE CAR. TIRES HAD BEEN ROTATED EACH TIME THE OIL WAS CHANGED (3000 MILES), SINCE PURCHASING NEW. ON 08/09/00 WENT IN FOR OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION AND COLONY TIRE SUGGESTED THAT IT WOULD NOT BE SAFE FOR ME TO BE DRIVING WITH TIRES AS THE LEFT REAR HAD THREE SPLITS AND HAD SEPARATED IN ONE PLACE. THE OTHERS SHOWED CRACKS. COLONY TIRE CALLED FIRESTONE TO SEE ABOUT CONSIDERATION FOR THE TIRES. AT THAT TIME HE WAS TOLD OF THE UPCOMING RECALL BUT THESE WERE NO A PART OF RECALL. SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE WRITTEN THE BRIDGESTONEFIRESTONE CO., FORD MOTOR CO.CALLED CELLA FORD, ALSO COLONY TIRE HAS SENT THE TIRES (4) BACK TO FIRESTONE.ALL THIS TO NO AVAIL AS ALL THEY HAVE ON THEIR MIND IS THE RECALL. WHICH DOESN'T...

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

YOU STATE "FIRESTONE DOES NOT PLAN TO RECALL THE APPROXIMATELY 5.6 MILLION WILDERNESS AT TIRES MANUFACTURED AT ITS OTHER PLANTS (JOLIET, CANADA AND WILSON, NC) OR OTHER MODELS OF WILDERNESS TIRES. " HOW CAN I BE SURE WILSON, NC TIRES ARE NOT INVOLVED IN THE DEATHS NATIONWIDE. OF ALL THE 148 DEATHS, NONE INVOLVED NC TIRES??? I HAVE FAMILY WHO DO NOT RIDE WITH ME BECAUSE I HAVE WILDERNESS AT'S. *AK( DOT NUMBER: WL XXXX TIRE SIZE: 225R75-15 )

YOU STATE "FIRESTONE DOES NOT PLAN TO RECALL THE APPROXIMATELY 5.6 MILLION WILDERNESS AT TIRES MANUFACTURED AT ITS OTHER PLANTS (JOLIET, CANADA AND WILSON, NC) OR OTHER MODELS OF WILDERNESS TIRES. " HOW CAN I BE SURE WILSON, NC TIRES ARE NOT INVOLVED IN THE DEATHS NATIONWIDE. OF ALL THE 148 DEATHS, NONE INVOLVED NC TIRES??? I HAVE FAMILY WHO DO NOT RIDE WITH ME BECAUSE I HAVE WILDERNESS AT'S. (DOT NUMBER: WL XXXX TIRESIZE: 225R75-15)

WHILE AT A CURVE DRIVING 30 TO 35 MPH, RIGHT REAR FIRESTONE TIRE WENT FLAT DUE TO A NAIL IN TIRE, VEHICLE ROCKED BACK AND FORTH VIOLENTLY. CONSUMER WAS AFRAID VEHICLE WOULD ROLL OVER. *AK TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE WILDERNESS, SIZE P255/70R15, DOT W2UU 1PO138. *SLC

ORIGINAL FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES ON A FORD, EXPLORER, 1998, LEFT FRONT AND LEFT REAR TIRES BLEWOUT, AND TRUCK FLIPPED OVER.P2557016 109. *AK DOT# VNDU. *SLC

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES EXPERIENCED CRACKING, EXCESSIVE NOISE CAME FROM THE TWO FRONT TIRES, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT TIRES. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING THE PASSENGER FIRESTONE TIRE BLEWOUT CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE RIM, CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FIVE TIRES. NLM

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE (P235 75 R15) EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT. *SLC

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (P235 75 R15) FAILED. *SLC

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES (P235 75 R15) EXPERIENCE VIBRATION AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT, TIRES HAVE BEEN ROTATED AND ALIGNED, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING THAT TIRES BE REPLACED. *SLC

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES ROAR WHEN CONSUMER BRAKES OR WHEN THE VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP, CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCES QUICK STEERING BECAUSE OF THE SHORT WHEEL BASE. *SLC

MAY OF 2000, I WAS ENTERING THE INTERSTATE AND NOTICED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS GETING HARDER TO STEER. I MERGED FROM THE FAST LINE TO THE SLOW LANE IN ORDER TO PULL OFF TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. WHEN I GOT OUT TO CHECK MY FRONT PASSENGER TIRE HAD GONE FLAT. NO WARNING AND IT WAS FINE NOT 5 MINUTES BEFORE THAT. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO FIX IT AND HE TOLD ME THAT IT CAME COMPLETELY OFF THE RIM. I WENT TO THE DEALER TO OBTAIN 2 NEW FRONT TIRES AND PAID OVER $200.00 FOR THEM. THE VIN STARTED WITH VN AND THE 2 NEW ONES START WITH W2. I THEN HEARD ABOUT THE RECALL AND JUST FIGURED THAT GOD MUST HAVE BEEN WITH ME ON THAT DAY TO MAKE MY TIRE GO FLAT BEFORE I COULD PICK UP ANY REAL SPEED. I KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT HAVING...

CONSUMER REPLACED 3 TIRES WITHIN ONE YEAR DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR, THE ONLY ORIGINAL TIRE WHICH REMAINED IN THE VEHICLE WAS COVERED UNDER RECALL AND WAS REPLACED, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE EXPERIENCED BLOWOUT, WHEN CHANGING TIRE DEALER BROKE THE JACK HANDLE AND NEVER MADE CONSUMER AWARE OF DAMAGE. *SLC

THE BRIDGESTONE FIRESTONE P 235/75R15 TIRE EXPERIENCED FAILURE WHICH RESULTED IN CRASH AND INJURY (NO DETAILS PROVIDED BY CONSUMER). *MJS

CONSUMER VEHICLE FAILED INSPECTION BECAUSE OF SHREDDING/BALDING FIRESTONE TIRES, CONSUMER BELIEVES THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE AND HAD ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED, CONSUMER BELIEVES TIRES SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER RECALL AND REQUEST REIMBURESMENT. NLM

CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT HER FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES LOOK DRY ROTTED BUT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 00T-005 BECAUSE THE DOT NUMBER IS W2 NOT VD. NLM *TS

DON'T HAVE ALL THE DETAILS/NUMBERS ON TIRES AS CAR TOTALED AND IMPOUNDED OUT OF STATE. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK (TIRESIZE: 16 INCH)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 16 INCH )

ALL 4 OF THE VEHICLES FIRESTONE TIRES HAD CRACKS, CONSUMER HAD ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED. NLM

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES P235 75 R15 EXPERIENCED CRACKING ALL THE WAY AROUND THE TOP OF THE TIRE. *SLC

I HAVE HAD MY TIRES INSPECTED TO SEE IF THEY WERE THE RECALLED ONES AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY ARE NOT BUT ALL 4 TIRES ARE CRACKED IN THE SAME PLACE AS THE ONES BEING RECALLED. I AM AFRAID THEY WILL PEEL OFF AND I AM NOT WILLING TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE ANY DISTANCE. I AM ASKING YOU TO INCLUDE THESE TIRES IN THE SAFTEY RECALL OR AT LEAST GET ME NEW TIRES AT NO COST. WHY ARE THESE ANY DIFFERENT FROM THE RECALLED ONES AND THEY HAVE FAILED ALSO. (DOT NUMBER: VN TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

WHEN THE FIRESTONE TIRE RECALL WAS FIRST ANNOUNCED, I CHECKED THE TIRES ON MY 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE DOT NUMBERS AND SIZE WERE NOT AMONG THOSE LISTED IN THE RECALL, THE TIRES SEEMED TO BE IN GOOD CONDITION SO I WASN'T OVERLY CONCERNED. I HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED MY VEHICLES METICULOUSLY, INCLUDING THE TIRES.AIR PRESSURE IS CHECKED WEEKLY AND KEPT AT 30 PSI AS INSTRUCTED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL, AND ROTATED AT EVERY OTHER OIL CHANGE (6000 MI ).WHILE WASHING THE VEHICLE SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, I NOTICED A SLIGHT HAIRLINE CRACK ON THE SIDEWALL ABOUT 3/4 OF AN INCH DOWN FROM THE TREAD AREA. THIS CRACK DID NOT GO COMPLETELY AROUND THE TIRE AT THIS TIME AND WAS EVIDENT ON ONLY TWO TIRES. I HAVE KEPT A CLOSE EYE ON THEM EVER SINCE. THIS PAST WEEKEND I NOTICED IT ON ALL FOUR TIRES, NEARLY COMPLETELY AROUND ON TWO OF THEM. THIS...

ALL 4 OF THE VEHICLES FIRESTONE TIRES HAD CRACKS, CONSUMER HAD ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED. NLM

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES P235 75 R15 EXPERIENCED CRACKING ALL THE WAY AROUND THE TOP OF THE TIRE. *SLC

NO SUMMARY (TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

I HAVE THREE TIRES WITH CRACKS AT THE BASE OF THE TREAD. BOTH I AND MY TIRE DEALER BELIEVE THAT THESE TIRES EXHIBIT THE BEGINNING OF TREAD SEPARATION. FURTHERMORE, IF LEFT IN SERVICE WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT THEY WILL FAIL. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD BY PHONE AND FIRESTONE VIA EMAIL WITHOUT SATISFACTION. BOTH FORD AND FIRESTONE BELIEVE THAT THE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT FAILURES ARE LIMITED TO THOSE TIRES MARKED DOT VDL. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY ARE BOTH WRONG. WHILE I STILL HAVE THE DEFECTIVE TIRES IN MY POSESSION, THEY HAVE BEEN TAKEN OUT OF SERVICE. PLEASE WORK WITH FORD & FIRESTONE TO EXPAND THE RECALL TO INCLUDE THESE TIRES. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS REQUEST. (DOT NUMBER: VNHL TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

THESE WILDERNESS AT TIRES, THOUGH NOT MADE AT THE DECATUR PLANT, HAVE DEVELOPED SIGNIFICANT CRACKS ON BOTH SIDES AT THE BASE OF THE TREAD. I AM CERTAIN THAT, IF DRIVEN AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, THIS TREAD WILL SEPARATE. PEOPLE AT TWO TIRE DEALERS AGREE BUT SAY THEY CAN DO NOTHING SINCE THE TIRE IS NOT RECALLED. I URGE YOU TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT WILDERNESS AT TIRES MANUFACTURED AT ALL PLANTS. DECATUR IS NOT THE ONLY PROBLEM PLANT. THANK YOU.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W..... TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)

THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE! THE POLICE REPORT STATES THAT THE RIGHT REAR TREAD CAME OFF AND RESULTED IN A MULTIPLE ROLL-OVER ACCIDENT CAUSING BODILY INJURY TO THE DRIVER. PLEASE ADD THIS TO THE LIST OF FIRESTONE INJURIES ASAP. THE VEHICLE ACCIDENT OCCURRED BEFORE THE FIRESTONE TIRE RECALL WAS MADE PUBLIC, SO THE TIRE AND VEHICLE ARE SO FAR UNRECOVERABLE. THE DOT# IS UNKNOWN, BUT WE DO HAVE PICTUREA AND VIDOE OF THE VEHICLE AFTER THE ACCIDENT THAT SHOW THE DEFECTIVE TIRE AND TYPE. THANK YOU, AARON COOLEY( DOT NUMBER: ??? TIRE SIZE: P235/75/15 )

DRIVING BACK FROM LAS VEGAS NEVADA AT 11:00 AT NIGHT. SUDDENLY THE CAR SWERVED INTO THE RIGHT LANE, THEN THE OUTSIDE MIRROR BROKE. FORTUNATELY I WAS UNINJURED,BUT IF IT HEPPENED 5 MINUTES LATER I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE GORGE AND MOST LIKELY WOULD HAVE HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. BODY DAMAGE AND REPLACING TIRES HAS COST ALMOST $4,000. (TIRESIZE: 15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 15 )

I THINK THAT YOU EXPLORE THE STEERING ON THE FORD EXPLORE. IT IS MICH TO QUICK FOR THE ADVERAGE DRIVER. THIS IS THE REASON THERE IS SO MANY ROOLOVERS/WRECKS WHEN A TIRE FAILS. I WAS DRIVING WHEN THE TIRE FAILED ON MY EXPLORER. I HAVE BUILT AND DROVE RACE CARS FOR YEARS, HAVE BEEN TO NASCAR DRIVERS SCHOOL (TWICE), AND I BELIEVE THIS HELPED ME CONTROL MY TRUCK WHEN THE TIRE FAILED. THE EVERY DAY DRIVER WOULD HAVE REACTED WHEN THE TIRE FAILED, THE QUICK STEERING WOULD HAVE OVER REACTED AND THE DRIVER CAN NOT CATCH UP WITH THE REACTION, THUS A WRECK. FORD SHOULD REPLACE THE STEERING BOXES ON ALL EXPLORER,S WITH A SLOWER STEERING BOX.*AK

ALL 4 TIRES BEGAN TO SHOW TREAD SEPARATION ALL THE WAY AROUND THE TIRE ON BOTH THE INSIDE AND THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO 2 DIFFERENT FORD DEALERSHIPS, INCLUDING THE ONE WHERE I BOUGHT MY EXPLORER, AND BOTH RECOGNIZED THE BREAK DOWN OF THE TIRES BUT STATED THAT IT WAS A FIRESTONE PROBLEM AS THE TIRE ID NUMBER WAS NOT ON THEIR RECALL LIST. FORD SENT ME BACK OUT ON THE HIGHWAY WITH BAD TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FIRESTONE WHICH WOULD ONLY PRORATE A REPLACEMENT WHICH WAS NOT ADEQUATE. THUS I ELECTED TO REPLACE THE TIRES WITH MICHELINS. I HAVE PHOTOGRAPHED THE TIRES AND HAVE KEPT THE TIRES FOR FUTURE REFERENCE. IT APPEARS THAT THE TIRES BROKE DOWN DUE TO THE FACT THAT FORD USED THE LOW PRESSURE OF 26 PSI. IN THE TIRES TO PREVENT ROLLOVER. THIS LOW PRESSURE CAUSED ALL 4...

THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRE! THE POLICE REPORT STATES THAT THE RIGHT REAR TREAD CAME OFF AND RESULTED IN A MULTIPLE ROLL-OVER ACCIDENT CAUSING BODILY INJURY TO THE DRIVER. PLEASE ADD THIS TO THE LIST OF FIRESTONE INJURIES ASAP. THE VEHICLE ACCIDENT OCCURRED BEFORE THE FIRESTONE TIRE RECALL WAS MADE PUBLIC, SO THE TIRE AND VEHICLE ARE SO FAR UNRECOVERABLE. THE DOT# IS UNKNOWN, BUT WE DO HAVE PICTUREA AND VIDOE OF THE VEHICLE AFTER THE ACCIDENT THAT SHOW THE DEFECTIVE TIRE AND TYPE. THANK YOU, AARON COOLEY (DOT NUMBER: ??? TIRESIZE: P235/75/15)

PE00-020; TIRE SIZE P23575R15 DOT VNHL1PY507 ,ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON FORD, EXPLORER, 1998 WITH 40,000 MILES. A CONTINUOUS CRACK ABOUT 3 QUARTERS OF INCH DOWN FROM TOP OFFIRESTONE WILDERNES AT TIRES TO TREAD LINE, GOING ALL AROUND THE TIRES. ALL 4 TIRES HAVE VISIBLE CRACKS.*AK *SLC

I HAVE COMPLAINED AND HAD SERVICE DONE SEVERAL TIMES AT AL PIEMONTE FORD ABOUT AIR LEAKING OUT OF TIRES WEEKLY. THEY SAY THERE'S NOTHING WRONG. IF THIS WERE THE CASE, WHY DO I HAVE TO PUT OVER TEN POUNDS OF AIR EACH WEEK IN ALL MY TIRES. THESE SHOULD ALSO BE PART OF THOSE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES ON RECALL. PLEASE RESPOND TO MY INQUIRY.*AK (TIRESIZE: P255/70R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

IN EXAMINING THE TIRES FOR THE RECALL, I NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD A CRACK ALL AROUND THE SIDEWALL JUST ABOUT 1 INCH BELOW THE TREAD. EVEN THOUGH MY TIRES WERE NOT A PART OF THE RECALL BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT MANUFACTURED AT DECATUR, I WENT TO THE FIRESTONE DEALER AND GOT THE TIRE REPLACED. I HAD TO PAY A PRO-RATED COST FOR THE TIRE BASED ON ITS TREAD WEAR. I BELIEVE THAT THIS TREAD SEPARATION PROBLEM MAY EXTEND TO MORE THAN JUST THE RECALLED TIRES. IN THE 20 MONTHS THAT I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE I HAVE HAD THE TIRES ROTATED THREE TIMES. (DOT NUMBER: W2HL1PY447 TIRESIZE: 235/75R15)