Firestone announces MASSIVE tire recall!!!

[Goober]

Exact reason I got rid of mine last year! Tires had over 60,000 miles with good tread left, BUT the inside of the tread was dry rotted and had cracks all through them. It figures they recall them now after I have already gotten rid of them Can anyone see how lucky I am.. remember the garage vs. roof rack controversy..

I do happen to have my original spare, so I will at least get it exchanged free. Can you tell it doesn't take much to make me happy?

 

[Tom Wilk]

I read a long article in today's Akron Beacon Journal about the recall. They will prorate the refund based on remaining tire tread. As was stated, it affects only Firestone's AT, ATX, and Wilderness AT tires. According to the article, you will get a credit towards any Firestone/Bridgestone product, but this may be true only at Firestone tire stores. I'm hoping to get a credit on my spare (which is still a Wilderness) to use towards a 5th BFG at NTB.

The article alluded to the problem being prevalent in situations where people don't inflate their tires properly, which is probably about 80% of the driving public (IMHO). They said that underinflation is a major factor in the failures. So, keep those tires hard, except when off road, of course.

There have been 48 million of these tires sold, and there are around 300 complaints made to the NHTSA. The tire is linked to something like 45 deaths. I don't know how this compares to other tires being used in similar duty, but it must be bad or they wouldn't be voluntarily recalling them.

 

[flyguy]

I have Firestone Wilderness HT's...

 

[93EddieBauer]

What's the deal? Firestone is only recalling tires in the warmer states. So just because it's only hot here in Wisconsin for about a third of the year am I less of an issue to them. If the tires are bad then they should ALL be recalled! It's time that these big corporations start worring more about their customers safety than their wallets, otherwise they won't have any customers left! Anyways that's my two cents worth. I'm sure that there's others in this area that agree with me.

 

[Keely95EddieBauer]

It is just as bad that they are only recalling certain tire sizes? That dont make sence to me... granted, I am no rocket scientist, but, seems to me that tires of the same kind would flock together... dont matter what size...

I would say they are only setting themselves up for bigger law suits, and ones that are easier to prove negligence if they dont recall all of the ones effected in all the states...

I did learn Kansas is on the list though... the Firestone dealer called to let me know that, but that we were the "wrong" size... right brand though...

 

[JoeC5]

Who is it up to on which brand of tire is to replace the stones? I read in a thread that he is getting bridgestone Dueler A/T and i read in a different thread that he is getting the Dunlops. What is goin on here. Is it up to the dealer or the customer? Personally I wouldn't mind getting a set of Michelin LTX A/T.

 

[Rhett]

I sold my Firestones a few months ago for $80. I replaced them with Dunlops and they have been great tires. The Dunlops ride much nicer than the Firestones.

Come to think of it, I still have a Firestone ATX as my spare tire. It has zero miles on it. I probably won't bother replacing it.

 

[Keely95EddieBauer]

I dont now who is supposed to pick... but I did hear that the states starting on recall were those in southern areas... but the whole US will be in the recall.. gotta wait your turn.

The dealership called me today and said I could have my choice of tires from their boo-boo... but I dont get the recall, I got the wrong size tires to be in it...

 

[Brandon1993Sport]

to flyguy on HT's

Hey flyguy, I had the wilderness HT's on my explorer and they had no unusual tread wear and looked great and then one morning I came out to my truck to go to work and found a four-inch high bubble coming out of one of the front tires and a 2-inch high bubble coming out of one of the rear tires. I live in south texas so it is a hot climate but I've never had any other tires have that problem here. I think you should definately replace the tires even though they're not part of the recall. The front bubble was so big that it was pushing the front bumper out so I had to cut it with a knife.
Brandon

 

[Goober]

I just go off the news wire reading up on the latest. Keely is right about the recall being nationwide. They are just trying to do the states with the highest recorded incidents first. With all my complaining about my bad luck, seems that may have changed. 7/99, I bought 235/75/R15 Dunlops to change out the 235/75/R15 Firestone ATX( I was reading about the 'recall/exchanges' being done overseas and didn't want to chance it). Seems I may get a refund if I can ever get through the 800 number they have and get the form sent to me. I still have the spare, receipt(new tires) and before/after picture of the truck with the tires clearly seen.
I should do well on this one.

 

[Ray Hutchinson]

Firestone Hotlinje

Group,

This number was given on the news last eve. : Firestone recall Hotline: 1-800-465-1904. Get the straight scoop, not just speculation/rumor about what Firestone will or won't do !

 

[Ray Bates]

Scope of Firestone Recall

Check out Dead Link Removed

It has an interesting article and starts out with:

"Questions are being raised about tires not included in the recall--specifically 16 inch tires (P255/70R16) and 15 inch Firestone
Wilderness Tires built in plants other than Decatur (P235/75R15)."

Be sure to read the whole article. So, what about us with the 16" tires?

 

[Keely95EddieBauer]

Ray Hutchinson,

I learned two weeks ago about the tires, a TV station, KWCH channel 12 in Wichita, Kansas had been doing a series on those tires before the National media mentioned it...

I called that number, got this line of "We have hundreds of thousands of tires on the road, and you are worried because you hear about just a few of the tires??" Now they treat me like I am a stupid woman.... So I went online, did some researching, read a lot of boards about the tire, finding few compliments to the tires and most were posts of people who had problems with the tire separating... so I call that 800 number back and inform them of what I found online... a week later, the National Media started.

Now, Monday I sat at a Tirestone business for three hours, two Wilderness AT's came in during that time with "blow outs" I listened to the management tell people "Oh there is nothing to those stories.. it is obvious you hit something on the road..." This is the same company who would not tell me why they replaced my tires with new ones from HT to AT, even though I over heard them talking about the woman who has two of her tires that were separating...

I have spoken to several Firestone dealers and it seems I am not getting a honest answer anywhere...

It is not the bad tires that have me as upset as it is that I feel they are being totally dishonest, and are covering their butts....

I admire honesty above all else... but here where I live, I get the feeling that it is a "tell them anything" situation.

Today I learn I can get my AT's replaced, but they are going to charge me per tire....

 

[Keely95EddieBauer]

Ray Bates,

Thank you for the information

 

[JoeC5]

Well today I went to ETD Discount Tire and filled out the paper work for the recall. The new tires will be on by tuesday. Apparently they will be putting on the new version of the Wilderness AT which I am not happy about at all :fire: Maybe i'll trade them in for a set of Michelins or something.