New Goodyears Exploding in Brazil - Ford Explorer Ranger Enthusiasts "Serious Explorations"®

sphaugh · 05-22-2001, 01:48 PM

watch the news this summer:

the furor over firestone tires mounted on explorers has only just begun. goodyears, and other 'replacement' brands continue to fail on Explorers in South America. I heard this from a firestone factory employee who got the lowdown during a speech from management - explaining why Firestone still feels maligned by Ford & is probably going to sever ties altogether. ( http://mirror.bridgestone-firestone....s/H010521a.htm )

Be careful out there this summer.

Karman · 05-22-2001, 04:24 PM

It was actually Venezuela, but you're close enough. There was an article about it in the Miami Herald last week. The Venezuelan government is getting involved and going after Ford. It hasn't made the news in a big way yet, but I'm sure it will as the Firestone vs. Ford war heats up.

Anyone who thinks this is a tire problem is living in a dream world.

*FMExplorer* · 05-22-2001, 05:50 PM

Karman,
MotorTrend (I believe) did a test on the Explorers trying to get them to roll. Simulated blowouts under a strict controls. None of them flipped. They were trying to discover if there was poor driving involved. Conclusion - not poor driving. However, none of their Explorer's even came close to flipping. Also - none of the tires had tread seperation. I've followed this pretty intensley and haven't come up with any conclusions, but the evidence I see leans in Ford's favor and against Firestone...

Jon

PLRBEAR · 05-22-2001, 07:21 PM

There's only one problem with the Motortrend test: All of the tests were done in a straight line.

What if the person was going round a bend when the tire went? That's a question still left unanswered.

Karman · 05-23-2001, 08:00 AM

I haven't seen the MT test. Can anyone scan it or post the details of how it was done? One things for sure - a Motor Trend test driver in a controlled environment is not the same as a soccer mom at the wheel, loaded with grandma, the kids and vacation gear headed down the Florida turnpike at 90 mph to Disney World in the middle of July with 12 lbs. of pressure in a set of 7 year old worn out tires.

Its too bad the Explorer has turned into a status-oriented station wagon. This problem would never have happened.

*FMExplorer* · 05-23-2001, 09:18 AM

Quote:

I haven't seen the MT test. Can anyone scan it or post the details of how it was done? One things for sure - a Motor Trend test driver in a controlled environment is not the same as a soccer mom at the wheel, loaded with grandma, the kids and vacation gear headed down the Florida turnpike at 90 mph to Disney World in the middle of July with 12 lbs. of pressure in a set of 7 year old worn out tires.

Karman - it was a real controlled environment. The tires were not seperated, just instantly deflated. It was done on a straight track, however, the driver even ran the test with no hands on the wheel - and the Explorer still tracked true. I guess the point is, if anyone runs 7-year old tires at 90mph with 12psi in ANY car they are asking for it...

The only thing I can think of is maybe there is something in the design of the Explorer that causes it to roll when tires seperate. Shame on the engineers for not putting that safety feature in (said sarcastically)

Jon

kvo · 05-23-2001, 11:13 AM

It was a Car-N-Driver article about three months ago.

I'll scan it and post it tomorrow for those interested along with subsequent comments from readers regarding the test.

kvo · 05-24-2001, 11:00 AM

I found the articles but the scanner doesn't work at work. The test was from the Car-N-Driver January 2001 issue and the comments were from the April 2001 issue.

05-22-2001, 01:48 PM	#1
sphaugh Wannabe Elite Explorer Join Date: Jun 2000 Posts: 115 Vehicle Specs	New Goodyears Exploding in Brazil watch the news this summer: the furor over firestone tires mounted on explorers has only just begun. goodyears, and other 'replacement' brands continue to fail on Explorers in South America. I heard this from a firestone factory employee who got the lowdown during a speech from management - explaining why Firestone still feels maligned by Ford & is probably going to sever ties altogether. ( http://mirror.bridgestone-firestone....s/H010521a.htm ) Be careful out there this summer.

05-22-2001, 05:50 PM	#3
FMExplorer the original tramp Fort Myers, FL '99 Explorer EB Join Date: Feb 2000 Posts: 1,996 Vehicle Specs	Karman, MotorTrend (I believe) did a test on the Explorers trying to get them to roll. Simulated blowouts under a strict controls. None of them flipped. They were trying to discover if there was poor driving involved. Conclusion - not poor driving. However, none of their Explorer's even came close to flipping. Also - none of the tires had tread seperation. I've followed this pretty intensley and haven't come up with any conclusions, but the evidence I see leans in Ford's favor and against Firestone... Jon __________________ Jon McLeod 2002 Harley Davidson F150 #6792 visit Florida Explorer Club

05-22-2001, 07:21 PM	#4
PLRBEAR Wannabe Elite Explorer Calgary,AB,Canada 95 EB 4x4 Join Date: Apr 2001 Posts: 383 Vehicle Specs	There's only one problem with the Motortrend test: All of the tests were done in a straight line. What if the person was going round a bend when the tire went? That's a question still left unanswered. __________________ 95EB 4.0 OHV V6 w/K&N FIPK;Westin Classic Brush Guard;Sony Xplode MDXC6500;Soundstream 500s;2 Kicker Comps 10";Kicker 435ix w/JBL stockers;Monroe Reflex;Michelin Cross Terrain SUV;Dynomax Super Turbo 2.25" custom cat-back; Warrior 353s;Yakima 6 ski rack. "Some things are better left unsaid.."

05-23-2001, 11:13 AM	#7
kvo Wannabe Elite Explorer San Jose, CA '00 XLT (SOHC) Join Date: Mar 1999 Posts: 588 Vehicle Specs	It was a Car-N-Driver article about three months ago. I'll scan it and post it tomorrow for those interested along with subsequent comments from readers regarding the test. __________________ Hook 'Em Horns Retired '91 EB '00 XLT 4.0 SOHC - SOLD '01 Honda Odyssey EX '01 Lexus GS430

05-24-2001, 11:00 AM	#8
kvo Wannabe Elite Explorer San Jose, CA '00 XLT (SOHC) Join Date: Mar 1999 Posts: 588 Vehicle Specs	I found the articles but the scanner doesn't work at work. The test was from the Car-N-Driver January 2001 issue and the comments were from the April 2001 issue. __________________ Hook 'Em Horns Retired '91 EB '00 XLT 4.0 SOHC - SOLD '01 Honda Odyssey EX '01 Lexus GS430

05-22-2001, 04:24 PM	#2
Karman Wannabe Elite Explorer Atlanta, GA '93 XLT Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 7 Vehicle Specs	It was actually Venezuela, but you're close enough. There was an article about it in the Miami Herald last week. The Venezuelan government is getting involved and going after Ford. It hasn't made the news in a big way yet, but I'm sure it will as the Firestone vs. Ford war heats up. Anyone who thinks this is a tire problem is living in a dream world.

05-23-2001, 08:00 AM	#5
Karman Wannabe Elite Explorer Atlanta, GA '93 XLT Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 7 Vehicle Specs	I haven't seen the MT test. Can anyone scan it or post the details of how it was done? One things for sure - a Motor Trend test driver in a controlled environment is not the same as a soccer mom at the wheel, loaded with grandma, the kids and vacation gear headed down the Florida turnpike at 90 mph to Disney World in the middle of July with 12 lbs. of pressure in a set of 7 year old worn out tires. Its too bad the Explorer has turned into a status-oriented station wagon. This problem would never have happened.