Latest Firestone Recall FYI

[bigtigexplorer]

I just purchased a set of BFG Mud Terrains for my '99 Explorer. With the understanding that under the latest Firestone Recall I could take the old Firestone tires and the ORIGINAL receipt for my new tires to the local Ford dealership and be reimbursed up to $110 for 15 inch tires and $130 for 16 and 17 inch tires.

My local Ford dealership told my that only the tires that were on his list of approved tires would be eligible for reimbursement, and since the BFG Mud Terrains are not on the list that I would not be reimbursed.

THIS IS NOT A TRUE STATEMENT!!

According to Ford's Customer Service Center ( 1.800.392.3673 ) the list of tires the dealership has contains the only tires the dealership can use to replace the Firestone tires. As a consumer I/you have the option of purchasing ANY tire as a replacement for the recalled Firestone tires, and as long as the old Firestone tires and the ORIGINAL receipt for the new tires are brought to the local Ford dealership I/you will be reimbursed up to $110 for 15 inch tires and $130 for 16 and 17 inch tires.

So the moral of this story is I just got $600 worth of some kick a$$ BFG MT's for $120, now that's a deal tough to beat.

 

[Jefe]

So does it matter what size or no?

Wow. . .I may actually get something out of this. I figured I was dead in the water, since I've bought two sets of used tires (31's and 33's) since my firestones.

Maybe I can get some 35's out of this. . . =)

 

[bigtigexplorer]

I haven't heard anything about tire size except for the size of your rims. Like I said before a maximum reimbursement of $110 for 15 inch per tire and $130 for 16 and 17 inch per tire. I bought 30x9.5x15 for mine and when I turned them in to the local dealership ( about an hour ago ) he didn't even look at my new tires. The guy wrote down my mileage and some info on the sticker on the side of the driver's door. The customer service guy told me it would take around 30 days for my check to arrive.

Jefe, I say go for it and if your local dealership gives you a hassle call the 1-800 number.

 

[Jefe]

As much as I'd love 35's, and might be able to pull off having ford help pay for them, I wouldn't be able to regear for them.

I've got some other ideas though.

 

[ACBlessing]

I got $650 on the spot and even went up to 265-75-16s.

 

[JoeC5]

Well I guess I am out of luck. I had the Radial ATX's, during the recall they gave me the wilderness at. So I pretty much have no choice on what tire I get. This makes me a tad upset. Hopefully they will give me Goodyears or Michelin. I pray that I dont get the Generals.

 

[tbomb]

bigtigexplorer, if your local dealership said that he wouldnt give you the reimbursement then how did you finally get the money?...go to another dealership?

and as far as tire size goes, you can buy ANY tire size and get reimbursed. i had 255 70 r16's and i just bought 285 60 r17's and new rims and i called the 'tire inquiry' hotline and the woman said she asked her supervisor and even though my new rims are 17" diameter, ill still get reimbursed -- i guess now its just a matter of convincing the dealership that this is really how its suppossed to be and that im not lying.

i love ford for giving me some money back, but i hate them for making everything so difficult -- good analogy, it could take ford an hour, and use every utensil in the kitchen just to make minute rice.

 

[bigtigexplorer]

tbomb, from what I was told by the Ford CS Rep. the reimbursement money does not could from Ford, you will recieve it as a check from Firestone around 30 days from when the claim was sent off from the Ford dealership.

As far as your rim upgrade is concerned, like I said previously" "I turned them in to the local dealership ( about an hour ago ) he didn't even look at my new tires. The guy wrote down my mileage and some info on the sticker on the side of the driver's door. ", you shouldn't have to convince anybody of anything just bring in your old Firestone Wilderness AT tires and the ORIGINAL reciept for your new tires.

JoeC5, maybe I didn't understand your post, but if you currently have Firestone Wilderness AT tires, you may either go buy whatever tire you want and get reimbursted up to the max allowed or pick a tires off the dealer's list and have them replaced for free.

 

[tbomb]

bigtigexplorer, thanks. i still got about 4 weeks till i put my new rims/tires on and take my firestones back to ford, anyway.

 

[01EB5.0]

SOunds easy enough, but the thing that may put the stick in the spokes for me is my truck did not come stock with Wilderness AT. i had 15' goodyear RT/S from factory. I put on 16" wheels off a 2001 sport trac 2 months ago and those are wilderness AT. they have about 2,500 miles on them. If I send in my truck and they put down the 99,000 miles they are going to know for sure these are not the first set of tires my car saw.

 

[espnfreak]

so we WILL Get reimbursed for bigger tires?

 

[JoeC5]

Hmmm....So what do you think I should do. Buy a set of BFG Radial Longtrails and submit receipt or let ford put either Goodyears or generals on my truck? I dont know what model goodyear tire they are offering.

 

[bigtigexplorer]

During the first recall had the wilderness AT tires from the factory replaced, and they put on a set of "non-recalled" wilderness AT tires. You could say your tires were put on during the last recall, I doubt they would give you any problems, and if they did just raise hec in their showroom. Ford has enough problems as it is with this recall, could you imagine what would happen if they denied somebody's request to have recalled tires replaced.

 

[bigtigexplorer]

Jas84, The tires I purchased are 30x9.50x15. IMO, the only time the size or brand/model of your replacment tires is going to matter is if you plan on having the dealership replace the tires for FREE. If you buy your own tires, according to Ford you have the option of getting what ever you want.

JoeC5, Check out this site http://fordfirestonewildernessatprogram.ford.com/tirelist.html it has the complete list of tires YOU may choose from as FREE replacements for the recalled Firestone tires. I believe the BFG Radial Longtrails AT is on that list.