2002 Ford F-350 SD: tire blowout or tread separation

Filed Sep 23, 2016 · Tires · 119,500 miles · CA

Traveling westbound on interstate 8 just west of ca/az border at 3pm pdt. Weather is sunny with amb temp approx 105 degrees. Without warning an explosion / complete tire failure. 2-3 seconds after explosion tread completely separates from tire. Damage to lr body panel, wheel well and associated parts. Tire replacement along with repair/replacement of damaged body parts done to correct problem.

Filed Sep 23, 2016 · Tires · 119,500 miles · CA

After experiencing tire failure / tread separation on lr tire, inspection of remaining tires performed for signs of tread separation. Cracks noted in tire on rr which was purchased at the same time as lr between tread and sidewall.

Filed Sep 4, 2013 · Tires · NC

This spector tire just blew up. The tire separated at the tread and split open 6-8 inches.

Filed Jan 20, 2010 · Engine · 170,000 miles · CT

I have a 2002 for f350 superduty, I first had a spark plug blow out almost a year ago on cylinder 1 it was a loud pop then fluttering sound with reduced power, a smell like burning oil- gas, I was going down the high way when it happened & was unable to stop immediately, but when I did go under the hood the spark plug was jammed under the fuel line for the injectors & I still smelled a faint oder of gas, the coil was arching on the metal tubing above the spark plug. I figured it was the fault of my mechanic when he replaced the spark plugs, one year earlier, maybe he striped the thing or something. I fixed the problem with a heli coil everything was fine for a few months then it happened again with the same plug I again fixed it making sure to tighten the plug down good, three months later the same thing so I again fixed it each time having to purchase a new coil. Now year after the first incident 2 years since the plugs were installed, cylinder 2 just blew out a plug and destroyed its coil, so I began to think theres something going on here, somethings wrong!, & looked on line for the answer. There are hundreds of complaints, and no one is doing anything about it! This is the fourth time in a year this has happened! & I'm fed up! I have the spark plug & coil from this last. I believe this is a hazard, with gas being fed to the cylinder and the coil arching on the metal around it, its only a matter of time before a truck explodes, or has an accident & someone dies!

Filed Aug 19, 2008 · Tires · 154,000 miles · IN · 1 injury

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford f350 super duty. The vehicle has firestone lt26575r16 tires. While driving approximately 70 MPH, the front driver's side tire exploded and shattered into pieces without warning. The driver was injured and a police report was filed. The VIN was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 154,000.

Filed Jul 3, 2008 · Tires · 30,000 miles · MD

On june 12, 2008 we were driving up route 301 north just after the rt. 50 split when there was a blow out on the left front tire on our truck. It was frightening and I was barely able to control the truck and get to the break down lane. I observed a portion of the tire flying off to my left. We called the md state highway patrol and an officer responded and examined the wheel and remainder of the tire. This was a classic case of tread separation and there was over $2000 of damage to the left front fender, bumper and running board of the truck. Geico handled the insurance claim and the truck has been repaired. All of the tires on the truck at that time were general grabber tr, lt 235/85r16, dk-6559 32628

Filed Jan 9, 2008 · Tires · TX

In november 2007 my right front tire exploded without warning. Two years ago the left front tire exploded. Thank fully there was no traffic on the highway either time, which prevented an accident and damage to others. My truck damage totaled about $ 3500 to $ 4000 for each event. The fender and running board and other items on the truck were damaged by the exploding tire / tread that came apart. The tires were oem, general grabber tr, 235 85r16 load range e. The vehicle is a 2002 f 350 dually. Both happened on the highway at 70 MPH. I sent the last failed tire to general and they claim that the tire was damaged due to an impact, not a manufacturing defect. I disagree, the tire just unzipped itself. The truck has only been driven on highways and local streets. I have not hit any potholes. Though we all go over speed bumps, a load range e tire should be able to go over a speed bump at slow speed. Tires were properly inflated to 60 psig. Tread life on the tires is excellent. For two failures for me, a similar failure for a co-worker and several complaints on diesel truck message boards, there appears to be a trend of exploding 10 ply general tires. I think this should be investigated. The company no longer manufacturers this specific tire.

Filed Aug 27, 2007 · Tires · 27,600 miles · SC

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford f350 super duty. The vehicle has continental general ameri, size 235/85/r16 tires. While driving 65 MPH, the vehicle began to shake. The contact pulled over and discovered that the rear passenger side tire blew out and damaged the rear fender. Upon inspection of the tires, he noticed that the rear driver side tire was splitting at the top. The dealer stated that the tire blew due to impact. The vehicle was not involved in a crash. The contact has pictures. The tire and vehicle current and failure mileages were 27,600. Updated 12/12/07

Filed Aug 3, 2007 · Tires · MS

Sidewall blowout on general-grabbertr 235/85-r16---- good tread only 24203 miles on them-- came as standard equipment on 2002 ford f350---after close inspection of other 5 tires --there are sidewall separation defects (bumps) in all of them --thanks to the grace of god and my husbands physical strength and knowledge of what to do in case of a blowout we escaped unharmed-- by the way we were on I-40 in tennessee towing a living quarters horse trailer with a horse-- the blowout damaged the front fender and we had to be towed -- I would like to warn others drivers of the danger-- judging from the complaints I found in my research I think this is a problem that needs further investigation-- I do not believe this to be an isolated incident.

Filed Apr 11, 2007 · Tires · 43,000 miles · GA

Tl*- the contact owns a 2002 ford f350. While driving at 70 MPH the general ameri-trac tire blew out on the front passenger's side. There were approximately 38,000 miles on the tire at the time of the blowout. The tire dealer was unable to provide an explanation for the blowout. Approximately one year later the contact experienced another blowout on the rear passenger's side tire. There were approximately 43,000 miles on the tire. The contact did not take the vehicle to a tire dealer for inspection. The vehicle currently had 43000 miles.

Filed Apr 5, 2007 · Tires · 51,700 miles · KY

I am not happy with the original oem tires , which were continental sport lt/SUV, lt235/85r16e, which according to the ford dealer I purchased the truck from, was installed on f350 from the factory.*ak on friday march 23, 2007 I experienced a tire separation on the right front tire of my truck. I was on the interstate doing the speed limit of 65 MPH towing a light single wheel trailer when the tread separated damaging the fender, inner fender liner and the electrical wiring above the inner fender. We also noticed several wires were cut and no turn signals were working after this incident. I have since installed 6 new tires of the same size lt235/85r16e '' load range e and immediately compared the sidewalls of both the oem installed tires and the new tires I purchased. I asked the tire dealer for their opinion on the tire separation issue and they have replaced a number of tires for the same occurrence that happened to me. I believe ford motor company in conjunction with the tire manufacturer needs to do something in this situation as these continental oem tires are not suitable for install on f350 dualie'''s equipped with the diesel engine option. I am satisfied with the truck otherwise and would not hesitate to purchase another if the need arose. But I definitely would look at the tire situation in light of my experience. I also believe the manufacturer of the motor vehicle has a responsibility to specify a tire that is safe beyond a reasonable loading to prevent situations like this? Also the tire manufacturer (dealer) also shares in this responsibility and can not abrogate the responsibility by looking at the tire from ten feet away and say it looks okay to us.

Filed Jul 18, 2006 · Tires · 70,680 miles · NV

Tread separation of firestone steeltex a/t tire 265/75r16 load range e tire causing damage to vehicle.