Spare Tire problems of the 1997 Ford Explorer

: the contact stated the spare tire fell out of the mount while driving along the road at 20 mph. The cable failed next to the tire. The spare had not been used since the purchase of the vehicle. The contact has the affected parts. The service dealer and the manufacturer were not alerted.

Spare tire is stored underneath rear of car secured by a winch and cable which rusted and broke, dropping spare tire to ground, creating a high speed hazard for traffic following me.

While driving at a low speed in the driveway spare tire detached from vehicle. Driver found the cable that was holding the tire, it looked shredded.

After buying vehicle, found out that spare (p255/70r15) tire is a different size than regular tires (p255/70r16) on vehicle. Consumer believes it is unsafe in case of replacing tires with spare one.

3 weeks ago a vd coded wilderness at on right front of my Explorer lost a chunk of tread exposing both steel belts. I took it to firestone who said the stories in the press were false, and there was no problem. This was August 8, 2000. They sold me a replacement tire. I had previously been to this store complaining of woble at speed. They claimed the tires (all vd code) were good, and the alignment by Ford dealer was bad. My Ford dealer had inspected tires and alignment 7 months earlier and said the tires were bad. I did not install the replacement new tire since the recall news came the following day. So I used my spare, dot coded w2hl while recall issues were being resolved. Today I was driving at 70 mph in texas, 107 degrees at the time. The car started wobbling severly, and I slowed down. The entire tread of the tire then flew off, after causing damage to the car. The tire did not blow out, fortunatley. I walked back down the highway and retrieved the tread if anyone wants to inspect it. This was my spare tire, also mounted on right front, and it was a supposedly good dot code. I have had two defectives in 3 weeks on the right front of the same car. I was carrying 30 lbs pressure at the time of the second failure. I put the new spare on, drove to a tire store and bought 4 tires. I retained all four bad tires (3 are dot vd, and the other w2hl. I believe you need to look for other bad dot plant codes. I also think there is a defect in the Ford suspension, based on several mechanics reporting to me that the Explorers all exhibit an unusual tire wear pattern. Thanks. ( dot number: w2hl1py416 tire size: p235-75r15 ).

Have been complain of front wheel shake since purchasing vehicle at 36,000. Dealer thought it was a different problem. During routine vehicle mantinance found left front tire inside (dot w2hl) was worn and belt showing. Dealer said bad tire, firestone dealer said need alinement. Put on spare tire also dot w2hl and purchased new firestone wilderness tire p235/7515 dot 8xhl. Have kept old tire. Two remaining rear tires show cracks in side wall. Little help from dealership or firestone. Tires are at use full life, but good tread is still on tires. Plan on replacing all four this weekend . Will not be replalcing with firestone. ( dot number: w2hl tire size: p235/75r15 ).

Noticed on 8/11 that my left front tire had good sized cuts/splits in the sidewall of the left front tire. This tire is not coded vd as in the recall but coded vn which means it was made in the firestone canadian plant. The left front tire was changed-out with the relatively new spare tire by my Ford dealer in new york. ( dot number: vn-------- tire size: p235/75r15 ).

Had tire checked approx 2 hours before incident, when mechanic brought my vehicle back to me I drove about half a block and noticed the vehicle was not driving properly I got out and looked to see what was the problem and there was not enough air in the left drivers side rear tire which was not problem when I took it in, and I drove back to store located at 4561 elvis presley in memphis, TN and told them my problem. The checked the air pressure and asked me to pull around so they can put some air in it. I drove my vehicle home and approximately 2 hours later the same tire burst. I called store and they told me they have no replacement for me at that time. I am stuck with no vehicle because I had to put my spare tire on the vehicle and that left me without a spare tire. I have to bomb a ride to get places because I am afraid to drive my vehicle after this incident and because of the fact that I do not have a spare should another tire burst. I have been promised different dates that the tires are to come in, and each date they tell me the next week som should be in, but that hasn't happened either. I don't have the money right now to purchase my tires for reimbursement because I am laid-off and this is hendering me from seeking employment. ( dot number: vdhl tire size: p235-75r15 ).

On may 10th, 2000 while driving on us41 at a speed of approx. 58 mph, the tread on the right rear tire of the vehicle came off of the tire casing which caused me to almost lose control of the vehicle. After installing the spare tire, I went to my local firestone dealer and questioned if there was any type of warranty on the tire. The dealer said there was not. He indicated that the tire might have been run on low air pressure. Naturally I could not disprove his theory. I purchased two new tires because I was afraid of the same thing happening again. I told the dealer that I would be back to replace the other two when I had the money to do so. In the last few days, it has been brought out that there is a defect in some firestone 15 inch tires of the same type. I would like to notify the NHTSA that there is also a good chance that the 16 inch version of this tire may be defective also. ( dot number: tire size: p255/70r16 ).

As we were returning from vacation on 3/20/00 from florida, my wife (the driver at the time) felt weird vibrations through the steering wheel. (note -we were approx. 5 miles in to georgia on I-75 just passed the GA/FL border - near lake park?). As we continued to slow down and move away from other traffic, we heard a popping noise from under the Explorer as if things were kicking up from the road and hitting the undercarriage. Once we were able to pull off the interstate, I looked under the SUV and did a quick visual inspection of the tires, however, all appeared to be normal (no flats, nothing that we could visibly see). We pulled back onto the interstate and before we even reached merging speed (55 - 60 mph), the popping noise returned and we could actually see small black parts exiting the rear of the vehicle. We managed to immediately pull off the road and enter a gas station at which time we discovered a foot long patch of the left rear tire was completly gone. Although the tire never deflated, a complete foot long section of tread, through the steel belts and all, was gone. No other damage to the tire was visible (side walls all okay, no punctures, nails, etc. ). I inspected the rest of the tires and we continued our trip home once the spare tire was installed. On 4/1/00, I went to the local firestone center (940 old monrovia rd, huntsville, al 35806) and had them inspect the damaged tire. Although they did not confirm or deny that the tire was defective, they did offer me a new tire at a pro-rated discount. At that time, I had them inspect all of the tires, perform wheel balances, rotations, etc. Based on the tread wear at that time, full replacement of all tires was not needed. Since that time, we have heard from other people of similar problems and with the latest news on the investigation of the firestone tires, I felt it was necessary to report our experience. We were fortunate not to have had an accident and are awaiting more recall info.

I recently took the car to a Ford dealership to have a check-up. I knew that I would need to replace the tires soon, but have had trouble finding replacement tires due to the recall. The Ford service tech called me at work to tell me that my steel threads were showing through on one rear tire, and they did not have any replacements for me. He recommended that they put on the spare tire until I could get new ones. Since I knew that I would be driving on the highway for 120+ miles on labor day towing a horse trailer with my horse, I did not want to just have three worn tires and a spare. I started calling around and found four replacement tires (goodyear wrangler at/s) at a kaufman tire store. I drove from the Ford dealership that same day (on the original tires) to have the new ones put on. As they were switching the tires, the kaufman rep came to the waiting area to tell me - "you really dodged a bullet". Apparently, not only were the steel threads showing, they were showing because the tread was separating. They did not mention this to me at the Ford dealership. I have kept the tires, and the one looks as if someone took a razor blade to the edge - all the way around. As this was on the inside edge, I could not see it. I have my tires rotated regularly - the last time about a month and a half ago, so either this is a recent split, or the servicer did not notice (or noticed and failed to mention it to me). Given the recall, I thought I should info the NHTSA. Thank you. ( dot number: vf. . . Tire size: p235/75r15 ).

Consumer feels the wheel design of the spare tire is defective.

When a michelin dealer recently replaced the four 16 inch 255 firestone tires, he commented that the spare is a firestone 15 inch 225 tire. Is it safe to mix thes sizes? the 16 inch tires were original equiupment on the car -- not purchased as an option. Ford has not responded to my inquiry.

I purshased a Ford Explorer sport 4x4 with 16 inch tires and I went to replace my tires because of the recall on the firestone tires and I found out that the spare tire is only a 15 inch so I called the dealer and customer service to ask them why I recieved a 15 inch tire as a spare and they told me that it was o. K. To use a 15 inch tire until I could have my other tire fixed in case of a flat. I thought that it was wrong an a safety issue but they assured me that it would be o. K. So I was trying to find out if that was true if you could please let me know if that is safe or not you can e-mail me at jenet97@aol. Com. Thank you.

Spare tire size is insufficient for vehicle.

The spare tire is smaller than the original tires.