1997 Ford Explorer: tire blowout or tread separation

Filed Apr 24, 2014 · Tires · AZ

On 7/29/2013 we purchased a set of 4 kumho solus kr21 tires. The car is used primarily for highway travel ? Once weekly work commute and for vacation road trips. We had not yet driven it off pavement with the new tires. On 4/16/2014 I started the car to go to work. I heard an odd noise from the rear passenger side, almost like a rhythmic popping sound, but it stopped, and since it wasn't identifiable I proceeded to leave my driveway. About a block away, I heard the noise again, but again it stopped. At this point the car was handling fine. As soon as I got on the freeway (approximately 2 miles from my house), I noticed I was having trouble accelerating to speed (65mph). I also began to hear a rhythmic bumping noise, so began to pull over to the shoulder. By the time I got over, I could feel the bumping and knew I had a flat. The rear passenger side wheel had suffered a complete sidewall separation (see photo). The tires only had 6,624 miles on them ? All paved road, no dirt. They were supposedly warrantied to 85,000 miles. In retrospect, I believe the sounds I heard in my driveway were the initial sidewall separation. The separation did not cause immediate loss of air pressure or structural integrity; that only happened once I got on the highway and started driving at 60mph. There was no explosive noise like a blowout. In subsequently researching kumho tires, I discovered that this brand has a long history with sudden sidewall separation and/or blowouts ? All at low mileages. This occurs across several tire models and years. The complaints were so consistent that I went back to the tire dealer and requested a different brand. They replaced them and I notified them of my research results. I am very concerned that kumho is allowed to continue selling tires with such a safety risk. I was very lucky that I did not lose control and that traffic at that moment was light.

Filed Mar 22, 2010 · Tires · WI · fire

1997 ford explorer, vehicle caught fire. *bf the right front tire blew out. The driver puller over and noticed the tire had caught fire. The consumer was unable to put out the fire and eventually the entire vehicle became engulfed in flames. Ohio traffic report # 10-0298-89.

Filed Mar 30, 2007 · Tires · FL

Bridgestone tires. Customer states that they have lived with the squishing into the pavement since 11/06 and was reimbursed but still is not happy with the new tires that were put on the car**cc the consumer stated she has had to live with an uncontrollable vehicle when turning or accelerating. It was the consumers opinion that the tire were being broken at the sidewalls before installation and overpressurized on the red tire machine to stretch them and then filled with a gas that causes them to age prematurely, so they look like they have bee driven 40, 000 when they are brand new. A mechanic told the consumer, the tires were being filled with nitrogen instead of air. *jb updated 04/09/07. *jb the consumer has had 8 sets of tires placed on the vehicle. The consumer stated the sidewall were weak which caused the tires to blow out. Updated 04/12/07. *jb consumer stated on april 7, 2007 she has received a full refund from discount tires in the amount of $374.10 and returned the four tires to tire company. Updated 4/18/07 *tr the consumer stated she has not received compensation for her time. The consumer stated the business merely bought their tires back. Updated

Filed Oct 12, 2006 · Tires · NY

Consumer received a recall on bridgestone firestone tires. Consumer has a tire blowout prior to receiving this recall. *ts the consumer feels he should have been alerted about the faulty tires long before now.

Filed Sep 29, 2006 · Tires · 78,000 miles · AL

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.

Filed Jan 24, 2005 · Visibility · 83,986 miles · SC

Heater in vehicle became inoperative during a sleet and ice storm. Heater blend door failed causing only cold air to blow out of heater and defroster, windshield and windows fogged up and I could not see the road. Heater box and blend door replaced that cost me $700.00. 8nm

Filed Jun 17, 2002 · Tires · CA

Michelin, 17, tire information is not available. While driving side front and rear tires tread separated. Vehicle almost flipped over. Please provide any further information.

Filed Jun 17, 2002 · Tires · FL · crash

While traveling about 70mph on highway heard a loud noise , left rear tire tread separated, and consumer lost control of vehicle and went into an enbankment hittoing a tree.

Filed Dec 3, 2001 · Tires · MI

In contacting firestone to receive a rebate form for reimbursement of the replacement of the wilderness tire that blow out for me, the firsestone 800 number and the local firestone dealer does not have and will not provide a copy of the reimbursement form. It nice that there is a recall for the 16 inch tires, but a customer cannot receive the form from either the manifacturer or their corporate retail outlet.*ak (tiresize: 16)

Filed Oct 24, 2001 · Tires · OH

Three firestone wilderness ht tire failures. Consumer was traveling 70 MPH on dry road conditons when front drivers side tire went flat without warning. Second tire failure was on front passengers side. Dealer has been contacted. *ak consumer stated he is unable to get any assistance from firestone or dealer, consumer has now replaced all 4 tires.

Filed Sep 25, 2001 · Tires · FL · 2 injuries

The tread of the left rear tire separated causing the vehicle to veer off the roadway, the driver overcorrected to return to the road which caused the vehicle to rotate clockwise, upon the vehicle sliding the left rear tire became deflated and the wheel began to gouge into the roadway causing the vehicle to overturn several times, the driver sustained contusions and abrasions to his arms and upper torso area, the left rear occupant was ejected from the vehicle ans sustained contusions and abrasions to his head, neck, arms and legs, the other three occupants sustained fatal injuries(attorney for clients, florida highway patrol investigation, firestone, no other tire info given)

Filed Sep 4, 2001 · Tires · NY

Prior to recall, consumer experienced a tire blow out and replaced all four tires, consumer was denied reimbursement because the tire blew out before the recall.(firestone tires)