Firestone taking their time replacing tires

[fordguy]

I have been arguing with my local Firstone dealer because he actually has the balls to tell me that it is going to take upwards of a month to get the new tires to put on my truck. There were other people in the store when he told us this, and they were all ok with it. What is wrong here people? This company is killing more people by taking a month to put on new tires. I was furious! And this is for AZ, where we are "supposed" to be one of the first states to get the new tires.

Also, I told them there is no way I will put Firestone/Bridgestone tires back on my Explorer, and I want a different manufacturers tire. He WOULD NOT DO IT. I was literally red in the face.

I went to Discount Tire to see if there was anything they could do to help me (they're awesome over there). The manager said that at this time they cannot help out with the recall, but their corporate guys are trying to talk to Firestones corporate guys to allow them to join in, and that things are changing so rapidly with this that maybe in a day or two they can join in on the recall. I sure hope so. There is no way I am going to drive my family around with there tires on the truck for another month.

I tell you what, I will NEVER buy another product from Bridgestone/Firestone :fire:

 

[Goober]

I understand what your gripe is about, but there are millions of cars on the road with these tires. Could you stamp out enough tires to cover this event in a day and get them shippped out and put on the cars? No one company could. I worked in a quality assurance department for a while so, let me pose this question to you. The other tire manufacturers are increasing their number to help out. Do you think they are letting some non-perfect tires slide that they normally wouldn't? Well, we all hope not, but you never know.
Judging from the number of tires produced and used their full life vs. the ones that have this problem, I'd say (statistically) there isn't a severe problem. BUT, Even 1 person getting hurt/killed because of this is enought to warrant getting the defective ones off the road, I AGREE. Can this be done quickly? Not quickly enough for some people. I live in a state that is a southern state, 95+degree heat daily and we are in the 3rd phase for the switch/recall. This means our tire sellers are shipping our tires to your state according to 'the plan'. Are we *****ing, yes.. do we understand?..most of us do. If you are deadly afraid of something happening and just cannot wait, go buy you some new tires. You can call their 800# and get a refund for your purchase.
Your also stating you'd never buy from them again... Have you ever personally had a problem with one of their tires? I ran the original set for 4.5 years, 67,000 and no problem whatsoever. The only reason I got rid of them was because of the dry rot /cracking between the treads.

I fully understand your concern for your family, but you must remember, your not the only one out there. Pick up a map and see.

 

[Eagle]

Try Big O Tires

I live in Flagstaff and had the same run-a-round as you did when I went to my Firestone dealer. Make sure that the Firestone shop is NOT a privately owned store. They could care less. I went to the Big O tire store by me and they said that they would replace any tire and give “fair market value” for the tire. What ever that is worth right now. But Big O does sell BFG’s.

 

[Ismael]

I think BR/F'stone messed up the recall...

People can die and have died as a result of using these tires - that is extremely serious. And this is the second time for them with this kind of faulty tire. I hope none of us kicks the bucket while waiting. I may just change my tires today and not put my life in the hands of BR/F'stone. The LA Times had an article 8/10 that said some people may have to wait upto 12 months (months!) for new tires.

 

[95ExplorerLtd]

Well, if you think 12 months is bad, I gotta wait 18! That really sucks! I'll just shell out the cash and make them refund me later. :frustrate

 

[JWood]

ATX

Houston Firestone store today put me on the waiting list guessing it would be next week when they receive tires. The Wilderness AT made in another facility is the replacement tire he said they would provide. I could upgrade but was told that the 1993 Explorer XLT I drive is prone to create "cupping" on other type of tires...ever hear of that being the case....?

93 Explorer XLT
2nd Transmission overhaul
New Air-conditioner

 

[Ismael]

Of all the tires in the world...

18 months?! I wouldn't wait that long, that's too risky. The cupping issue is what brought me to Wilderness ATs. The OE Goodyear tires began cupping at 20k (sounds like someone is pounding inside the wheelwells when you apply the brakes). So I went to F'stone, but WHY?! Of all the tires in the world, I had to choose killer tires.
I'm going to buy new tires 8/12, refund or not. I'll let you guys know what they tell me at the shop tomorrow,and what F'stone tells me.

2d 2wd 96 Sport

 

[zavetsky]

Got my tires replaced

After hearing from two Firestone dealers and the company itself that my state might not be gotten to until NEXT Auh\gust, I chose their second option.....

I bought new tires, and will keep the old ones and my receipt till the yget the refund procedure in place.......

My hopes are that they will do this QUICKLY though.......I cant afford to loan Firestone my money PLUS pay interest on the credit card.....

I had just purchased two new ATXs three weeks ago.....NTB (owned by Sears)took them back no questions back, put new Dunlop Rovers in their place and I bought three others (including spare) on a 90-days same as cash deal........

SO, hopefully firestone will make good and refund me by then....of course, Firestone may file chapter 11 and we'll ALL be screwed! (Ok, probably not......!)

So, at least I can scoot my family around in relative safety or at least I dont feel so paranoid now....

Plus, I upgraded to 30x9.50x15s.........I'll pay the difference of course...........

I was very impressed by the guy at NTB and his crew....had the new tires on in 20 minutes! 15 minutes of paperwork....out the door......WOW! I be much happier now...of course, I'll be totally happy when I get my $350 clams refunded...........

 

[fordguy]

I went to Discount Tire today and got some Goodyear tires to replace the ATX's. I will just have Firestone reimburse me. I am wondering how long it will take them to refund the money to people such as myself who went this route.

My problem with Firestone is not really about them not having enough tires to replace everyones ATX's and Wilderness AT's, it is the fact that they would rather take an extremely long time to replace the tires themselves then let some of their competitors (IE Discount Tire) join in on the recall and get those tires off the streets. Either way, they're going to lose millions, many millions, because of this situation. I would like to think that the publics safety would be the number one priority to them.

 

[kilroy]

Did a lot of looking around today

I have been to 12 stores today around my area in Illinois, and guess what! they are all out of stock on 235/75r15 tires, in all brands, in all stores!!!! There was a rush of poeple buying replacements as soon as the story broke, even before the recall. I am on a waiting list here at a local company owned dealer. I shouldn't have to wait more than a month since the tires I have are still under the milage warranty and they are all showing signs of peeling. Those cracks I had posted pictures of anre the first signs of tread separation. I have one tire that is starting to separate, so I replaced it with the spare. I am going to have the spare put on the alloy rim tomorrow so that at least I wont be driving around for a month with one steel wheel and three alloys. I've gotton over my initial anger now that I have talked to 12 dealers. They are very sincere is what they are telling me, and since I've talked to so many I have gotten pretty much they same story from all of them. And that includes Goodyear, BF Goodrich, Michelin, Sears and NTB. As long as I got that one bad tire off, I'm ok. I can wait, and since I have had this thing, the traction with these tires has been good, I haven't slipped, or gotten stuck with them, and the ride is decent, and the wear is good. I have 47K on them, and they still have 3/16th of tread left before the wear indicators, and lifetime on them is 50K. I have heard of people getting up to 80K on them, but thats pushing it. So if Firestone replaces them with the same tire, as long as they are not from the same plant, I wont mind, I'm not an off-roader, I just got it to tow my horse trailer, what I really wanted was an Expedition, but couldnt find one in time.

BTW they are going to swap the rims for free and just charge to balance the one for $9. I can live with that.

 

[zavetsky]

consider bigger tires

Why don't you consider going to a different size?

NTB was also just about out of 235x75x15s.......

I got 30x9.50x15s........They look great!

No rubbing so far except for the left front on hard turn in reverse...rubs on my mudflap, which is a 3-d style flap.........

At least then you might not have to wait so long.........

 

[kilroy]

If I go with a different tire, it will be an LT for the higher weight capacity, but even then I would have to order them, and it could take up to a week for those. I dont want to put bigger tires on, it might not clear my garage door, its a tight squeeze as it is now, plus if it throws my speedo off, I might get myself into trouble, since I normally drive just a few over if you know what I mean!

 

[Eagle]

Picture

KILROY were is the picture of your tire. I would like to compare it to mine.

 

[kilroy]

Here you go

 

[kilroy]

ARRGH

Ok for some weird reason the pics dont wanna show, here is the link;

http://www.grandillusion.org/images/tire1.jpg

 

[kilroy]

I will take some new pics tomorrow of the tire that is about to divorce its tread, and post them here. I would do it tonight, but I would rather make sure I have plenty of light so all the detail shows.

 

[zavetsky]

on second look....

Ya know, when this meass forst came out I checked out my tires and everything looked ok....but, I figured, better safe thamn sorry ...so I got the new tires right away....

Now that the tires are sitting in my garage I looked much more closely....

One of my three tires has the problem.....a crack that runs the perimeter of the tire, on the sidewall, just about an inch below the tread........

All I can say is look VERY closely! It may be hard dto see when its on the vehicle..........

I feel **MUCH** better about my "jumping the gun" and getting the new tires right away.....Who knows WHEN that may have let go!!!!!!!!!!