All four tires have a circumferential crack where the tread meets the sidewall. I am concerned that this may lead to a tread separation that I have read about this past weekend. I actually noticed the problem about two months ago.( dot number: )
1997 Ford Explorer tires complaints
Page 22 of 23: complaints 611 to 640 of 668, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I am sending this form as I have had 2 wilderness tires peel apart while on the highway. I feel these tires are very unsafe, but, the cost of tires prohibit me from replacing. Both times the tires ripped apart while my baby girl was in the car and we were lucky that our swerving did not cause a major accident. I have no doubt these tires are unsafe and need to be replaced by ford and firestone. *ak( dot number: )
The tread stripped off the tire, but the innertube remained intact..it still it full of air with no tread on it. The loose tread beat the underside of the wheel well, causing some visible damage. This is obviousely a tire problem and I think firestone should be held responsible. *ak( dot number: tire size: p235 75r15 )
Pre-drive inspection of tire indicated many cords showing through where tread had disintegrated around both edges of tire. Middle of tire tread appeared normal as did other remaining original tire on opposite side of vehicle. Believed to have happened rather suddenly since tires are cleaned and inspected regularly. Also believe tire would have failed while driving had the condition not been noticed. Approximate tire life remaining on other original tire is 5,000 to 10,000 miles. *ak( dot number: tire size: p235/75r15 )
For about 2 weeks my vehicle was pulling to the right and the ride got increasingly rough. My husband took the vehicle to a tire store and found that the tread was separating and there was a bubble in the tire. According to the mechanic, the tire was about to blow out. We purchased a replacement tire (a firestone atx) and left the other three original tires on. I've since seen reports on problems with firestone wilderness tires so I wanted to report this. *ak( dot number: )
Experienced a surpise blowout while on the interstate 45 freeway in houston - no road hazards - the tire just blew up. *ak( dot number: tire size: p235/75r15 )
I have hadd to replace 3 of 5 tires in the last 7 months due to tread separation. When I first reported the problem on 2 of the tires I was advised that it was only superficial. I continued to monitor the tires and two weeks ago had to replace them due to evident separation (I could put my finger in the cracks that had developed). I have returned to them due to tire cupping which was discovered by the dealer repair shop. I have been told by the dealer there is nothing wrong with my suspension. Firestone is refusing my claim stating that the only way the tires could have become cupped is by some "ford vibration" or suspension problems. Firestone advised me when I first went in the tires were overinflated. I had been driving for 30 minutes in 100 degree weather. When the manager checked the tires they ranged between 32 and 35 pounds. I advised him they inflated them the last time. He stated that the tires could be no more than 26 psi when cold and that when they heated up the variance would only be 3 pounds. He left for the evening and turned my vehicle over to the techs. When the techs returned the vehicle to me they state the tires were underinflated and had inflated them to 32 psi. I advised them their own manager had stated the tires must b e 26 psi but they did not reduce the inflation of the tires. I am concerned that due to the prior failures of 3 of the tires (one of which has become cupped) my vehicle and my family are in danger. I ma trying to get firestone to return my funds so that I can get tires from someone else imagine my frustration on that. *ak( dot number: unknown tire size: 23575r15 )
I was traveling on I-75 southbound from ga. To fl. At 70 MPH when I heard a loud noise from the front of my ford explorer. I observed a piece of tire tread in my rearview mirror. Not having lost control or feeling like my tire was flat, I beleived I had run over a piece of old tread in the roadway. I motioned to a driver next to me to look at my tire. He motioned back that it looked ok. I continued driving from the wildwood, fl. Area to tampa, fl. At interstate speed and through intermitant rain. Upon arriving home and after driving the vehicle again for an errand, I checked the tire and observed that the entire tread of my right front tire was gone! I went to the firestone store @ 9035 n. Florida ave, tpa and was told that I must have struck something, possibley a nail, and that made the tread separate. And, that tread will not just come off a tire. I was sold another atx. *ak( dot number: tire size: p235/75r15 )
I hydroplaned in november 1999 in a ford explorer with brand new firestone wilderness tires. I was traveling at 40 MPH (10 miles below the speed limit) and the conditions were rainy. There were several very serious injuries to all parties involved. I have been reading about problems with explorers and these tires and I'd hoped to get more information and register a complaint if applicable. Please let me know if I can help to prevent any other accidents. Thank you!. *ak( dot number: tire size: p235 75r15 )
The left rear tire of my ford explorer became separated on arizona highway I-17 at the speed of about 70 MPH. The tire was sent to the firestone/bridgestone in nashville,tn,and the company paid for the repair expenses caused by the tire separation. This incident changed our lives, because we could have got seriously injured or killed had it been one of the front tires... As victims, we strongly support the government's investigation into the situation involving the tires manufactured by firestone/bridgestone. Better yet, we hope ford will recall all the f/b tires. We are going to have them replaced anyway, and ford or f/b should reimburse my cost.( dot number: 8xhlipy )
Pe00 920; consumer was traveling about 65mph on highway and heard a popping noise, tread came off of tires.
Firestone atx tires were on this vehicle. Left rear tire had a blowout, causing vehicle to rollover. It was totaled. Dealer has not been contacted.
Outer tread is peeling away from the rest of the tire. *ak( dot number: tire size: p235/75r15 )
I have had one blowout traveling approx. 65 MPH on an expressway and have replace two other oem tires (at different times) because of broken belts in the tires... Both mechanics told me that it appeared as though I had a defective tire. That is was nothing I was doing wrong, or that the truck was doing to the tires. The tires basically started giving me trouble at about the 50,000 mile mark - I thought tires should last a bit longer than that. Before al the reports I was feeling as though there were problems with just my set of oem tires, but I see that a lot of others are having similar problems.( dot number: tire size: 16 )
I was traveling back to college on I-75 in my explorer. I was going about 65 MPH. Without warning the tread of the passenger rear tire separated and starting flying off. I knew at the rate of speed that I was going I would flip my car over is I braked. Instead I tried to steer the car to the side of the road. I was lucky that there was not a lot of traffic. I went from the third land to the shoulder of the road on the first lane and ended up in the opposite direction. The tire was still inflated but the tread was almost all gone. When the tow truck arrived the driver took a look at the tire and said this had to be a defective tire. The back of my explorer by the taillight was damaged due to the flying rubber. I have since replaced all 4 tires on my explorer. When I showed the firestone dealer the tire he told me that this happened due to wear and tear. I believed them at the time. I am not quite sure that this was the case. After reading the stories about explorers and the firestone tires I felt compelled to notify you. I feel that from other accounts of the firestone tire and the explorer this is exactly what happened to me. My vehicle would have flipped over if I had braked. I was quite lucky. The damaged to the taillight is still not fixed on my car but as I mentioned I have already replaced all the tires. The tires on the explorer were atxs.( dot number: )
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 )
Pe00-020; consumer was traveling about 65mph on the highway and driver's side left rear tire tread separated and exploded. Vehicle started to go out of control, and vehicle rolled over three times. Vehicle was totaled. There were three people injured.
Vehicle has the wilderness/atx tires. While pulling into driveway rear driver's side tire completely separated.
Pe00020; tire tread separation: while driving about 70, tread on the right front tire came off. Driver was able to control vehicle. Two passengers were in the vehicle. No one was injured. This was a firestone wilderness tire, size p23575r15, original equipment. Firestone was called about the problem. Owner was told to take tire to a firestone dealer for replacement. Please provide any further information. *ak firestone wilderness p235/75/r15
Equipped with wilderness/atx tires vehicle experienced tire separation to the rear driver side tire while traveling on highway at 70 MPH. A ford dealership was contacted, and replaced the tires with two new wilderness tires.
Pe00020; tire tread separation: while driving at any speed, truck pulled severely to the right. Tire on the driver's right front side continued to shear on the inside. Tires were firestone wilderness, size p23575r15, original equipment sold with explorer. Tires were aligned and switched around, but continued to pull to right, and sheared the tires. *ak
My right rear firestone tire blew out while I was driving the explorer, causing me to lose control of the vehicle. I skidded into the path of an oncomming car and was "t-boned" by that car on my drivers side. The tire was recorded as "defective" on the police accident report. All comments are from the police accident report. I have no memory of the accident. I suffered a concussion and was flown by lifeflight to the nearest trauma hospital. I am still trying to recover and regain my life. Please recall these dangerous tires before they kill and injure more innocent people.( dot number: )
Tread separated from left, rear tire at highway speed without warning, lost control of vehicle as a result, went onto left shoulder of road, corrected to come back to left lane and explorer began to roll, rolled approximately two times before landing on right shoulder of road. *ak( dot number: )
While driving home from jackson,ms on interstate 20 on sat. July8,2000, our car started vibrating and making a noise. My daughter asked what was wrong and what to do. I told her that I thought we had a blow out. I instructed her to brake and slow down as much and as fast as possible and try to keep the car on the road. The vehicle was slowing down and she was maintaining control until something stopped the car from rolling and she lost control as if something was physically pulling the wheel hard to the right. She then lost complete control and the car started turning to the right. We then hit a bridge abutment on the driver's side, the car spinned completely around from the first impact with the bridge and then we hit the bridge on the passenger's front side, we were knocked clear of the bridge and headed down an embankment toward a large stand of pines and the car came to rest just past the driving lane on the highway. We had a witnesses from dallas, texas, also driving an SUV, who told us that they saw the entire accident and that there was nothing my daughter could have done differently because they could see the steel belt of the tire get caught up in the mechanism under the car and then she lost total control. We were told by the state trooper who accompanied us to the emergency room that he was glad we hit the bridge like we did because if we had not we would have probably rolled or hit the stand of pines after going airborne head on. He stated that he had seen numerous occasions in a situation like ours that the occupants of the vehicle were critically hurt or killed. My husband and I feel that the firestone company and/or the ford manufacturer should replace our vehicle with a new one and at the least, pay our medical expenses which were minimal according to the terrible accident we had. We are lucky to be alive! We will not stop until every one we are acquainted with knows how negligent the manufacturers are in this matter.
While driving about 70 MPH vehicle start vibrating. Then, felt a pop on the tire where the ABS light come on, and consumer kept control of vehicle with firestone tires. *ak firestone wilderness at p235/75/r15
Pe00-020: was driving approximately 35mph when tire blew. Checked the firestone wilderness tire p275/75r16 & tread had separated from rear left tire. Took vehicle to firestone tire shop & had the tire replaced. Do not have the tire.
While driving at 60 MPH tread began to separate on wilderness/atx tire before it blewout. Firestone has been contacted. *ak firestone wilderness atx 235/75/r15
On 4/28/00 I had my tires checked at firestone. Replaced front two tires. Mileage on vehicle was 56,405. Back two tires had plenty of tread and did not need replacing. Reason for replacing front tires was cupping on inside of front tires. On 7/12/00 the back left tire blew out on the interstate at 70 MPH. Car went off road and flipped three times...totalling vehicle. Suffered broken ribs, concussion and other injuries. *ak( dot number: tire size: p22575r15 )
Tire blew out on major highway. Caused vehicle to spin out of control into oncoming highway traffic. Narrowly missed several head-on collisions. Truck was skidding on rims. Still have tire remnants. Exactly as described in USA today article. Police responded, but no report taken, as there was no collision. *ak( dot number: tire size: 235/75/10 )
Tire blew out on major highway. Caused vehicle to spin out of control into oncoming highway traffic. Narrowly missed several head-on collisions. Truck was skidding on rims. Still have tire remnants. Exactly as described in USA today article. Police responded, but no report taken, as there was no collision. *ak( dot number: tire size: 235/75/10 )
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