Wilderness ATs

[Tekeman]

Does anyone from a phase 1 state know what the "dealer program price" is going to be when turning in these tires? I'm in Pa and the last phase although the dealers are replacing them now anyhow, but they don't know what this "program price" will be set at. I read their guideline book and option one is a replacement of the same tire(free option)-not. Options two and three are replacing the tire with a better Bridg/Fire or from a competitor. I want to go to BFG 33x10.5x15. The pre-recall price my dealer estimated is $135/BFG less $80 for the Wilderness = $55/tire out of my pocket. Plus, $10 per tire handling fee and the cost of mount,balance,probably tax,etc. $275 min. cost to me I bet, not bad but not as good as I thought it may have been. My guess is I can get the BFGs for less but then I will have to try and get reimbursed. I'm also going to check with a Ford dealer, although one I did contact said they are only replacing the original tire. I've got a 97 with 52k so they probably aren't the originals and they said I would not qualify under Ford's program. Sound right to anyone?
Thanks for any responses. Doug

 

[Robert]

Originally posted by Tekeman
... I'm also going to check with a Ford dealer, although one I did contact said they are only replacing the original tire. I've got a 97 with 52k so they probably aren't the originals and they said I would not qualify under Ford's program. Sound right to anyone?
Thanks for any responses. Doug

First off, if your tires are the Firestone tires that are subject to the recall, it doesn't matter if they are the originals or not! If they are subject to the recall, they someone has to replace them. The Ford dealer might not, but a company owned Firestone shop will have to. The other thing is they are likely the original tires anyway. I got rid of my Wilderness ATs on my '97 when I had 54K miles on it. There was still enough tread to go another 10K miles. If your tread has a lot of wear to it, then I would say they are the originals. Don't tell the dealer that you don't know if they are the originals or not. The one problem you are likely to run into though is that you want to change the size. It has been reported that they will not change them for another size, even if you pay the difference.