*** Tire Safety Warning on Firestones***

[Ira]

Just saw this posted on another BB. Don't know how accurate it is but since it pertains to safety, I had to post it. Please don't flame me for posting it...I just wanted to because of the safety factor involved.

I saw a very interesting and troubling report on one of the local news shows last night. They are finding
evidence of a dangerous combination of Firestone Radial ATX tires and Ford Explorers. These tires are
original equipment on 1990 to 1996 Explorers. At highway speeds, there may be tread separation, loss of
control and a rollover. The entire outer layer of the running surface peals off like a truck's recapped tire. There
have been more than 30 deaths reported nationwide and many more injuries. They interviewed Jane
Claybrook, the former head of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), who is now the head of Public
Citizen, a non-profit consumer watchdog group. She is
campaigning for Firestone and Ford to recall all such vehicles.
Firestone has settled several cases out of court, but in testimony from former Firestone employees, they have
found that Firestone has "forced" their people to use old and "dry" rubber stock when fresh material is not
available. This is thought to be the problem on Radial ATX tires. Some years ago, the NTSB got Firestone to
stop manufacturing the Firestone 500 because of similar problems. Now they are back at it again. This is not
a company to deal with.

Ford gets bad press because they specified the tires and have
specifically blamed the problem on faulty driving. They have also simulated the problem on the track with
specially prepared Explorers and "proved" that the vehicle does not lose control. Of course, the driver is a
professional who knows what is about to happen and is prepared to react correctly. I expect that there will be
more on this in the press.

Here is the URL that I got it from. Dead Link Removed

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Ira
91 XLT 4x4
What do Playboy and National Geographic have in common? Just a couple of the places I will never get to visit

 

[DOGMAN]

Ira,

Thanks for the info on the Firestones. Your post makes me feel even better about scrapping my stock Firestones the day after I bought my Explorer in July 91 and replacing them with some good tires, Bridgestone Dueler A/T's. That's actually ironic also because Bridgestone actually owns Firestone now. The Duelers have served me well -- on my fourth set with 216,000 miles logged. I've never had one problem due to manufacturing defects.

Safety is the most important thing that we all should be concerned with, because without it, using our Explorers would be dangerous to our health.

One other thing. ALWAYS WEAR YOUR SEAT BELTS!!! On and off road. I feel lucky that my wife starting making me wear mine 15 years ago. It quickly became an unconcious habit.

A tragic reminder of this simple safety feature hits home today with the loss of KC Chiefs star Derrick Thomas. Had he and the other front seat passenger been wearing theirs, I believe they would still be with us today, just like the rear seat passenger that was wearing his and sustained only minor injuries. BUCKLE UP!

Sorry to be preaching, but if you lived in the Kansas City area like I do, you would understand my sentiments.

DOGMAN

 

[bcorff]

That is scary. My mom had the right, rear tire on her '94 XLT blow up while going 70 mph on the highway with my dad, brother, grandfather, and grandmother all in the car. Fortunately, she was able to maintain control and pull off the side of the highway with only a destroyed fender. No one was hurt, but if the car had rolled, I would have a lot smaller family right now.

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Brian Corff
'95 XLT 4x4 V6

Beware the lollipop of mediocrity. Lick it once and you suck forever.

 

[Ray Lobato]

Ira,
Thanks for the heads up. Dead Link Removed
Information like this should be shared with everyone on this board.

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Happy Wheelin'
Ray L.
97 XLT 4X4 4.0L SOHC

 

[Big Poppa]

Ira,
Thanks for the info, I had the Firestone's on my truck when I bought it about 1 1/2 yrs ago, I was going home from school on I75 at about 75 and mt right front tire blew just like you described. It tore my fenderwell out a little, but I kept control of it. I'm just glad I wasn't in a lot of traffic. And Dogman, I agree, where your seatbelt- I'd be w/o two uncles and a dad if they didn't wear seatbelts
Thanks again

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'91 2 dr Eddie Bauer
modified air box
K&N filter
MUCH MORE TO COME

 

[Big Poppa]

Ira,
Is that the correct link, or is the site just messed up? Maybe I can get my fenderwell fixed out of this.

 

[Green92]

Ira,

Thank you very much for your report. about a year ago I was traveling to Sacramento when we had a blow out at about 70 MPH. My dad was able to get onto the side. I am definetly going to replace my tires now. DOGMAN sends a very good message, always wear your safety belt. Luckily, my mom always made me wear it when I was young, so now that I am driving, it becomes second nature to wear it.

Thanks again.

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1992 XLT, 4x4, 4.0L EFI

 

[Ira]

Big Poppa,
Sorry about the link. It was working thru yesterday but I guess they change the links often. Here is a link you can go to and then just look down the active subject list for "Dangerous Explorer Tires" and click on it. http://www.deja.com/group/rec.autos.makers.ford.explorer

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Ira
91 XLT 4x4
What do Playboy and National Geographic have in common? Just a couple of the places I will never get to visit

 

[Jim F]

The post stated Firestone ATX tires. Has anyone had problems with the Firestone Wilderness AT tires that were stock on my 98? I believe Ford changed from Goodyear to Firestone in 98.

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Exploring CA
98 XLT 4X4 4.0L SOHC

 

[mattadams]

not necessarily true - in Salida I was speaking with a Ford rep about tires and he said that on every model of every year they will use as many as three different manufacturors brands of tires. I know my 98 F-150 came stock with Generals, but other people buying the same vehicle got goodyears, and some got firestones, and I think some people even got Kelly tires! he was describing what a huge operation/procedure it is just to get enough tires for their vehicles that they have to use seperate manufacturers or they will never get enough.

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Matt Adams
94 Explorer 4-door nick-named "Tippy"
http://bart.is-s.com/~explorers/explorer/explorer.html

 

[Spectre]

Jim, I had a problem with my Wilderness ATs- first time driving my Explorer on the west end of town, I took an onramp I was familiar with exceeding the speed limit, but not by much, and my driverside front tire came half-off the rim and in toward the wheel well. I slid sideways off the road but managed to keep it from rolling. My friends behind me thought it was going over for sure. Ford did the repairs for free, but they couldn't tell me why the tire gave out so easy. Since then, I've put the tires thru even worse, and I haven't had any more problems.

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1998 Explorer Sport 4x4
1999 Mustang GT

 

[Jim F]

Spectre
Did you break the bead or did the tire come apart like a retread?

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Exploring CA
98 XLT 4X4 4.0L SOHC

 

[Nonoy]

Thanks for the info. I feel better now that I scrapped the Firestone. The Tire shop said the tire are still good why change? Dead Link Removed

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NY State of Mind

 

[pacman]

Hello all,

I have a '97 EB with the Firestone Wilderness AT's (as it came from the factory). I haven't had any problem's with them as of yet, but I did find out something interesting when I bought the vehicle. The day I picked up my brand new Explorer from the dealer (it was a special order, didn't sit on the lot for more than an hour or so, no test drives by curious shoppers!!) when I got it home, I checked everything. Fluids, bolts, fit, finish, and of course, tire pressure. I found that the tires had these pressures (in psi): 10(pass front), 22(driver rear), 32(driver front), 55(pass rear). The recommended pressure is 30-35psi. When I approached the owner of the dealership about this, he was shocked!! He said they sometimes miss checking the pressures and let them go with whatever the factory fills them with, but he couldn't believe what I found. I'm sure glad I didn't have to drive more that 1/2 hour to get home or I am sure I would have had some trouble...since then, I check everything myself, just to be sure.

Pacman

 

[RobbieJ]

Hey guys on the topic of the fire stone tires as a matter of fact I was a victim of them. I was going around 80mph down a hot highway and it just so happens that I had a right rear tire blow and then All that I saw was ground sky gouund sky, when it was all said and done I flipped end over end twice and rolled four times the 95 xlt 4x4 was totaled but I survived it was amazing how the body held up. the tread separated from the tire it looked like a recap that came off . later

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Robbie J 1991 XLT 4x4 4.0 4-door