Tire Sidewall problems of the 1999 Ford Expedition

My Ford Expedition was outfitted a little over 3 years ago with goodyear wranglers by Ford due to the firestone tire failure. Recently, while washing the vehicle I noticed failure in the sidewall of the driver's side rear tire. All around the rim approximately 1/2 to 3/4" from the rim there are cracks in the rubber sidewall opening up as the earth does during an earthquake. These are approximately 2-3" long and a little over 1/8" deep so far. This is highly unusual for three year old tires. These will be removed before the next long trip as I will not wait for failure and put my or my family in danger.

Consumer states tires sidewall is cracking without warning.

Every month I check my tire pressure. In checking the tire pressure on April 6th, I noticed that on all four tires, there was a splitting/crack which ran about three-quarters of an inch from right to left right under the tread knuckle where the knuckle of the tread would happen to meet the sidewall of the tire. I immediately called the service manager at my Ford garage which is venus Ford in cudahy, wisc. He told me over the phone that I would have to contact an authorized firestone dealer. I contact muskego firestone in muskego, WI. They inspected the tires and I was told that all four tires were unsafe. After I asked the owner (keith) how safe the tires actually were,he told me "if those tires were on my vehicle, they'd be coming off. " keith contacted firestone. Firestone would not replace the tires free of charge I guess in doing this they would not admit to any default with the tire or with theie workmanship. The only thing firestone would do for me was to replace all four tires under a pro-rating system. Don't get me wrong, the tires were wearing like iron and for having 34,600 miles on them, the actual tread wear looked like the tires only had 10,000 miles on them. The depth of the tires were measured by the firestone dealer and all four tires came in at 10/32. The tires before coming off of my vehicle were documented by the firestone dealer on some form which I had to sign. On this form, the serial numbers of all four tires were listed and the their actual position on the vehicle. The replacement tires firestone provided were again their wilderness at's and same size. My cost which included labor and tax came out to about $50. 00 per tire. After seeing the splits/cracks in the tires I wanted these tires removed because it was my concern that there was definitely a safety issue here. Especially with a family and this family vehicle going to be used very shortly for two separte family vacations. (tiresize: 265/70r17).

While driving, right rear firestone tire p255/70r16 experienced blowout, consumer noticed a 3 inch tear on the inside of the sidewall, dot w2cu.

Splitting of tire at tread near sidewall outer edge steel showing. . All the way around tire (dot number: w2cuird189 tiresize: 255. 70. 16).

Traveling on interstate at 65 mph when I heard a loud pop and felt a sudden jerk in steering and vibration. I exited to the soulder as fast as traffic would allow. We we shocked to see that the tire was in two pieces, the sidewall was no longer connected to the tread. The tire did have a nail in it which was so snugly in the tire that you could not push it out by hand. This tire should not have been in two pieces! (dot number: vncu tiresize: p255/70r16).

Leased vehicle. Upon receipt, noticed white "paint" around sidewalls of tires. Since recall announced on p235's, examined tires more closely to see "paint" actually "divets" of rubber missing out of sidewalls on all tires around entire circumference. Looks like beginnings of separation of sidewall. Can e-mail digital pictures if requested. ( dot number: tire size: p265/70r17 ).

All four tires were found to be "cracked" along the tread/sidewall at 11,500 miles. Local firestone dealer replaced all four. While at the crown Ford dealership earlier that day I had them check my tires and they sent me to the firestone dealer, the service manage checked other Expeditions in the shop and found simular cracks on at least one more Expedition in the shop. I realize the 16" tires are not on the recall program. However, I do not think the problem begins and ends with only 15" tires. I have sent complaints via e-mail to Ford and firestone and have received their standard replies ref. The recall. I have lost confidence in firestone and desire anothner brand of tire. Please help. Thanks (tiresize: 25570r16)( dot number: tire size: 25570r16 ).

I took the tire into a firestone dealer due to a slow leak, they checked the tire, dismounted it and after reassembly said there was nothing wrong with the tire. The tire continued to exibit a slow leak rate of about 10 lb in 2 weeks. Due to the problems with firestone tires in general I replaced all of them. They all exibit tread seperation ridges in the sidewalls. I had firestone tires in 1974 and after a total of 19 tires 12 plus the original 5 I went to bias ply they were l 78 r 15 c range tires also. (dot number: w2t6ire149 tiresize: p265/70r17).

Developed a separation ( split ) in outer sidewall of tire. ( dot number: tire size: p255/70r16 ).

Driving on expressway, tire failed, pulled over to side of road, tread gone, nothing but sidewalls remained. Took tire to dealer, said it was run on the rim for extensive time, this was not true. Paid for new tire as well as new rim. ( dot number: w2t6ire368 tire size: p265/70r17 ).

In Aug, 99, I was driving my 1999 Ford Expedition on interstate 80 between auburn, California and lake tahoe, when my wife and 3 children heard a loud noise, and the vehicle began swerving all over the freeway. After the noise, my kids looked back and saw what they described as smoke and debris flying behind the car. Fortunately, I was able to steer the vehicle to the shoulder of the road without an accident. I got everyone out of the car and we called the auto club on our cell phone to come fix the flat. I looked at the flat tire, and I was very surprised to see the nature of the flat. The tire sidewall was totally disintegrated, but the tire tread remained is one round piece. I jacked up the car and removed the wheel, and the separated tread that surrounded the aluminum wheel. I looked closely at the separated tread, expecting to see a nail or some other evidence of a puncture. There wasnt any puncture or hole in the tread. I thought that was very unusual so I took some photos right there. Then I changed the tire and put the wheel and separated tread in my car. The auto club tow truck arrived just as I was completing the change. The day after the incident, I went to a firestone dealer in roseville, California and brought the wheel and the separated tread. I was pretty upset and requested a free replacement because it appeared to me to be a defective tire. However, the man at the firestone dealership said it was road hazard and that warranty did not apply. I commented to my son afterwards that he seemed almost pre-programmed for that response. I wasnt happy with their attitude at firestone so I went to the closest Ford dealership. They were nicer about it, and agreed that it looked like a tire problem, but they said Ford doesnt warrant tires on new cars. I ended up just buying a replacement wilderness at in redding the next day because that was our vacation destination. When we returned home about one week later, my wife wrote a letter to firestone, but we.

Rr sidewall blowout in carpool lane at 70mph. Did not hit debris to cause blowout. Tire new and inflated per specifications. ( dot number: tire size: 255/70rx16 ).

I am submitting this because of the recent controversy surrounding the 15 inch version of this tire. My 17 tire experienced an enxplained complete separation of the exterior sidewall from the tread portion of the tire at 2000 miles, but the vehicle ( a Ford Expedition) handled it smoothly. I never thought to complain because there was no damage other than the tire, and when the local firestone dealer saw it, he replaced it for free, no questions asked. It is my belief that the reason that there is so much focus on the 15 inch version of this tire is that the vehicles on which it is installed (the Ford explorer) are less stable and more likely to result in a crash in this type of failure. ( dot number: tire size: 17 inch ).

Recently I went to the body shop to get a rotation. But when I went, the mechanic told me that all my four tires had severe sidewall cracks. The mechanic told me that if I had driven the Expedition over 65 mph the tires may have torn off from the rims and flipped my car over. As a matter of fact, the mechanic told me that my problem with the tires is exactly the same as the problem people are having with the firestone tires. To get a second opinion I went down to a privately owned goodyear shop; the manager, after inspecting one of the tires, which all had the same problem, told me that the tires had defects in them and that we should immediately call the goodyear hotline. He also happened to agree that the tires would eventually rip off and flip the car if I did not change them. Hence I called the goodyear hotline, when the representative picked up, she told me that the man from goodyear who inspected the tires was not qualified to give an inspection. So then, I drove to another shop named !0just tires!1 that was licensed from goodyear to give inspections. After inspecting the tires, the manager agreed there was a defect in the tires and that if the tires were not immediately replaced I would be endangering my life. He too believed that my tires had similar problems to those of firestone. I have also had another problem with the Expedition. When I first bought the car, the side view mirror was stolen; and under the warranty, we were able to replace it. However, after a few months, the newly installed mirror started became somewhat unreliable. It accumulated scratches easily and was very fragile. The visuals the mirror gave were very dull and vague. Hence when we went to the dealership for another replacement, the representative told us that the mirror was no longer covered under the warranty; and so I was not given a replacement. (dot number: pdcud3er33 tiresize: p255/70r16).

While driving the sidewall of the right rear tire blewout and the tread separated (firestone wilderness 255-70-16), consumer wants the tires replaced. Nlm.