My wife and I were driving s/b in the carpool lane on the 605 freeway at 65/70 MPH when we heard a funny noise coming from the right rear tire. Thinking we had a flat, we started to move over to the right and exit the freeway. At around lane 3 I completely lost control of the vehicle. It fish-tailed twice and then flipped over and slid into the iceplant along the side of the freeway. The truck then righted itself and we ended up facing n/b on the shoulder. We could have easily been killed!!! My wife sustained some bumps and bruises but is otherwise ok. I walked away without a scratch. On inspecting the tire (which we now have in our possesion) we noticed that the sidewall had completely separated from the rest of the tire!! My wife and I are convinced that these firestone wilderness ht tires are unsafe!!! We have photos of the truck and we saved the tire. If you have any questions - please call us anytime. Thanks - wallace (dot number: w2uu tiresize: p225/70r15)
1998 Ford Ranger tires complaints
Page 2 of 6: complaints 11 to 40 of 136, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Consumer stated while driving on a slick road, he shifted into 4 wheel drive and between 45 and 50 MPH vehicle rotated to the left, consumer turned off 4 wheel drive and pulling became more severe, vehicle went into a spin and ended up in a hollow pit with back end against fence, consumer got out of vehicle and saw that he had experienced a tire blow out on three of the four firestone (p235/75r15) tires.
Tires are cracking at sidewall, indicates tire defect and not vehicle defect - I read recently that firestone is claiming it is a vehicle defect with the ford explorer. These tires prove the problem is with the tires themselves. These wilderness ats have never been on an explorer, yet they are cracking and show the initial stages of tread separation. Although ford is replacing these tires, I was told about a long waiting list that prevented immediate replacement. I went to sears auto center the other day and they can have them in under five days. Since these tires could fail me at any time, I am having to replace them at my own expense and seek reimbursement from ford later. Although ford is offering only $110 per tire, I will still be out $114.78 (the difference) of my earnings to resolve this issue. I can assure you from my experience, firsestone/bridgestone's claims are not to be taken seriously. I have four tires that are proof that these tires are defective regardless of vehicle type. If they ague that the ford explorer has a design defect and is unsafe, they must be willing to argue the same thing about the ranger. These tires were kept at 30 psi and maintained. Please look into this claim for me. Thanks. *ak (dot number: p235/r75 tiresize: 15-inch)
Fourth flat tire in one year period; this time, sidewall separated from tread!*ak (tiresize: p215/75 r1)( dot number: tire size: p215/75 r1 )
I have had two firestone 16 inch wilderness at tires fail. There is nothing wrong with my truck. It is an excellent vehicle, but there needs to be a further recall of all /firestone wilderness at tires regardless of vehicle make. *ak (tiresize: p23570r16)( dot number: tire size: p23570r16 )
After market tire, p225/70r14 size. Tread on tires have started to separate in center of tire.*ak firestone wilderness ht tires, dot number vnfc1p4218, consumer states tire on left front is separating and tires have already been replaced, consumer found out her tires were separating when she took one it that was flat.
Last july on a hot, 87 degree afternoon, my front left tire began to shake and I pulled over immediately. It was flat by the time I stopped so I changed it. I purchased two new cooper tires to replace the fronts. I have rotated snow tires on the rear and have had no problems with the remaining firestone original tires.*ak (dot number: w2uu ipo tiresize: p225/70r15)
While driving consumer experienced a blow out on right rear firestone wilderness ht(p225/70r14sl) tire, consumer stated she wrote firestone and manufacturer and she was told by both companies that tire was not at fault.
Tire size p22570r14, original equipment on ford, ranger, 1998 with 38,000 miles. All 4 tires have evidence of cracking on outside where tread meets and runs down circumference on all 4 channels. There is still tread left.*ak firestone wilderness ht, dot vdhlxbu1700.
Original equipment on a 1998, ranger, p235/70r16 size, dot# vn081bu. Sidewall on right rear tire blewout at 80mph. Manufacturer has been notified.*ak
Firestone, wilderness at tires were original equipment on a 1998, ford, ranger, and tires had 49000 miles on them. Consumer had noticed tread separation from outer sidewall where tread met sidewall. P265/75r15, dot w2b1pk. *ak 2 firestone dealers and 1 ford dealer stated consumer should replace all tires, 1 other firestone dealer stated tire cracking was ozone cracking and that the tires were okay, consumer replaced tires at his cost.
Firestone wilderness at tuolps, p235/75r15, experienced tread separation, consumer states the steel was showing through one of the tires, these tires were not included in the recall.
While driving at 65 m.p.h. Tire collapsed. I. *ak (dot number: w2fc1p4228 tiresize: p225/70r14)
Driver side front tire just separated as I was traveling down the interstate. I nearly lost control of my vehicle. I feel that if traffic were heavier at the time I would have caused an accident because my vehicle swerved very abruptly when the tire blew. It was my spare tire that couldn't have had more than 3000 miles on it. I am very concerned with the rest of the tires on my truck. *ak (dot number: w2hl1py138 tiresize: p235/75r15)
Noticed hair line cracks where tread meets tire, on a 1998,ford, ranger; original equipment, tire size p235/70r15, dot# w2hl1py138. Tire center notified, and unwilling to help in this matter. Tire available for analysis. Feel free to provide any further details on this matter.
Inside/outside edges of firestone wilderness at tires p235/70r16 are showing excessive wear, was having steering control problems & vehicle was vibrating. Took vehicle to firestone retailer. Left tires alone replaced with another brand of tires. Dot vn08
Tire was low on air, and the sidewall was peeled back to the rim.*ak (dot number: vn08ipu tiresize: 235/70r16)
Firestone wilderness ht tire p225/70r15 dot w2uu1p0069 was causing a noise, so consumer pulled over to see right rear tire experienced tread separation, firestone stated they would replace 1 tire, however consumer states all tires are starting to experience similar problems with tread, firestone will not assist unless tires are on a recall list.
The vehicle went off the right side of the road to avoid an oncoming vehicle in my lane. I corrected my vehicle to come back onto the roadway and when I turned back to the right, the right fron tire blew and the weight shiften from the weak springs in the rear, rolling my vehicle five times. The vehicle speed control was on at the time of the accident. Although the tires were original equipment, they were oversized (16 inch, off-road package) and unsafe for this vehicle. The 16 inch tires are no longer being put onto rangers. *ak (dot number: vd tiresize: p235/70r16)
Driver's rear firestone wilderness ht owl tire blewout while traveling 60mph.tires had 8200 miles on them. Consumer was able to gain control of vehicle without accident or injuries. Tire size p225/70r15, dot# unknown.
While driving, consumer heard thumping noise and went to a tire dealer who noticed tire tread had peeled, dealer also noticed the other 3 tires were showing signs of tread separation, rigt rear firestone wilderness at tire p235/75r15 was replaced, dot vnhl.
Consumer replaced all the firestone wilderness at 225/70r15 tires, the vehicle was having handling problems and the consumer noticed a bulge in the sidewall.
Failure of tires has not occurred yet; however, all 4 tires are full of cracks at the bottom of the thread blocks. One tread block on one tire has separated from the tire. I have never seen this on tires that are only 3 years old and at this much mileage. Concerned that tire failure is bound to happen and tires have plenty of usuable tread left.*ak (dot number: unknown tiresize: p225/70r15)
Firestone wilderness at tires (p235 75 r15) have a line all the way around the tire which is the start of tread separation, dealer informed consumer that all tires should be replaced, consumer requests help with getting the tires.
Firestone tires experienced tread separation, on one of the firestone tires the steel belt was showing.
Original equipment on a 1998, ranger p235/75r15 size. Tread on all four tires have started to crack all the way around where the tread meets the side wall.
Firestone tires had visible splits at the tread/sidewall interfave of several tires, consumer request reimbursement. Nlm
Sidewall blew out of tire at 60mph. From tread around sidewall half the diameter of the tire. (dot number: vn08 tiresize: p235/70r16)
While driving straight at approximately 10 MPH the right front tire blew. The tire has a 2" verticle break in it's sidewall. Upon search of the location, I didn't find anything that I might have hit at the time and I don't recall hitting anything with that tire in the past. Upon inspection, I noticed the tire has other verticle ripples in the sidewall as well as the other three still on the ground. The tire is supposed to have two plys of polyester in the sidewalls. Unless they are adjacent, I can only identify one in the break. No injuries or other damage occured. (dot number: w2fc ip4 tiresize: p22570r14)
Was driving 45- 50mph, had no prior warning, and left rear tire blewout. Vehicle was controllable. Pulled over, and noticed tire was shredded; replaced it with spare; took time for replacement tire. Do not have tire. P235/70r16 with 7,000 miles on a 1998 ford ranger.*ak the old tire was not repairable and the cause for blow out of the tire is not known.
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