1996 Ford Explorer

WHILE WESTBOUND ON HWY 58, 26 MILES WEST OF NEEDLES, CA., THE TREAD ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SEPERATED AND WAS THROWN FROM THE TIRE. THERE WAS QUITE A BIT OF DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. I HAD FELT AND INCREASING VIBRATION IN THE CAR PRIOR TO THE SEPARATION. I HAVE SUBMITTED THE TIRE AND REPAIR ESTIMATES TO FIRESTONE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PM086 TIRE SIZE: P235/75 R1 )

A VERY LOUD SLAPPING NOISE STARTED, I PULLED OFF ROAD AND FOUND THAT THE ENTIRE TREAD HAD COME OFF THE RR TIRE, ALSO SEVERING THE BRAKE LINE AND DAMAGING THE RESIN FENDER FLARE. AFTER CONTACTING FIRESTONE AND SENDING THEM THE TIRE CARCASS, THEY DID IN FACT SEND A CHECK FOR THE COST OF THE TIRE AND THE DAMAGE IT CAUSED. SHORTLY AFTER THAT TIRE SEPARATION, FOR PEACE OF MIND, I PURCHASED 3 WILDERNESS AT TIRES, TO MAKE ALL FOUR "NEW.'' TIRES. HOWEVER, WITH ALL THE PUBLICITY THAT THE FIRESTONE RECALL OF THE WILDERNESS TIRES, MY WIFE REFUSES TO RIDE IN THE VEHICLE. CONSEQUENTLY, IT SITS IN THE GARAGE. I WANT FIRESTONE TO EXTEND THE RECALL TO THE 16 INCH SIZE, AND RE-IMBURSE ME FOR MY EXPENSE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 255/70/R16 )

I EXPERIENCED A TIRE BLOWOUT AND LOST CONTROL OF MY SUV. THE SUV SPUN AROUND 3 TIME AND ALMOST FLIPPED OVER I STARTED OFF IN THE RIGHT LANE AND ENDED UP IN THE FAR LEFT LANE FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAD JUST HAD MY TIRE CHECKED A MONTH EARLIER AT A FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THEY WERE FINE.*AK( DOT NUMBER: P235/75R15 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

I ORIGINALLY HAD THE ATX'S ON MY EXPLORER. ONCE THE RECALL WENT INTO EFFECT, I WENT TO A FIRESTONE CAR CARE CENTER IN NASHVILLE (STORE # 028150) AND THEY REPLACED THEM WITH THE BRIDGESTONE DUELERS. I DROVE TO WORK AFTERWARDS GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WHEN I NOTICED A SHAKING IN THE VEHICLE. I HAD JUST HAD A BALANCE AND FRONT END ALIGNMENT TO GO ALONG WITH THE REPLACEMENTS. SO THE NEXT DAY, I TOOK IT BACK AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM TO THE MANAGER. IT WAS BUSY AND AT THE END OF THE DAY SO I SAID I WOULD BRING IT IN THE FIRST THING SATURDAY MORNING. THEY PLACED MY TIRES ON THE BALANCING MACHINE AND I WATCHED AS WE ALL NOTICED A WOBBLING IN ALL THE TIRES. THE MANAGER EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THE CAUSE OF THIS HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH WHEN THEY MANUFACTURE THE TIRES, THEY HAVE A LIGHT AND HEAVY SPOT IN THEM. IF THAT HEAVY SPOT IS OFF OR EXTREMELY HEAVY, IT CAN CAUSE A WOBBLE. NEVERTHELESS, I ASKED WHAT AM I TO DO NOW. THE MANAGER STATED THAT I WOULD NOW BE PLACED ON THE REPLACEMENT LIST. I WOULD PREFER TO GO TO A FORD DEALERSHIP NOW, BUT SINCE I ALREADY HAD A REPLACEMENT DONE, I DOUBT IF THEY WILL REPLACE THEM AGAIN. THIS IS WHERE I NEED YOUR HELP. I HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENTATION STATING THE DEFECTIVE REPLACEMENT TIRES. CAN YOU SEND ME A LETTER AUTHORIZING A DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THEM AGAIN? OR CAN YOU HELP ME OUT IN ANY WAY OR SUGGEST WHAT ALTENATIVES I HAVE? ALSO, I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY I HAD TO REPURCHASE THE LIFETIME WARRANTIES ON THE BALANCE AND ROAD HAZZARD WHEN I HAD THEM ORIGINALLY ON THE ATX'S. THE ATX'S WERE A RECALL, NOT TIRES THAT WORE DOWN FROM NORMAL USAGE WHERE A WARRANTY WOULD EXPIRE. I KNOW THE BRIDGESTONE DUELERS WERE NOT INCLUDED WITH THE RECALL, BUT THEY WERE MY REPLACEMENT TIRES, AND THEY TOO WERE IMPERFECT AND ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE FIRESTONE CAR CARE CENTER. AS A CONSUMER, I HAVE DONE WHAT WAS DIRECTED BY YOUR ADMINISTRATION. AS A CONSUMER AND A STATE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE, I HAVE GAINED NOTHING BY DOING WHAT I WAS DIRECTED TO DO. HELP ME!

TREAD ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE SPONTANEOUSLY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE BODY WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO VEER OUT OF CONTROL ACROSS THE HIGHWAY AND ONTO THE SHOULDER WHERE IT FLIPPED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DRIVER AND FRONT SEAT PASSENGER WERE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE DURING THE FLIPS AND FATALLY INJURED. THE PASSANGER IN THE BACK SEAT, THOUGH SERIOUSLY AND SEVERLY INJURED, SURVIVED.*AK( DOT NUMBER: VDHL1PM116 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )