Tire Sidewall problems of the 1997 Ford F-150

The contact owns a 1997 Ford F-150. The vehicle has cooper mesa a/p tires, size p225/70/r16 (na). While driving approximately 70 mph, the front passenger side tire completely blew out, which almost caused the contact to lose control of the vehicle. She safely maneuvered off the side of the road and noticed that the entire exterior sidewall was shredded. The interior and tread on the tire was in good condition. Prior to operating the vehicle, the tire pressure was normal. The dealer from where the tires were purchased stated that they were safe because there was no recall. The failure and current mileages were 158,000.

I have had three kelly safari tires,235-70-16,split in the sidewall,these three tires have split in the last 9 months.

Truck was giving a bumpy ride at various speeds. Went to my mechanic who examined the tires upon my complaint. He pointed out on both front tires where the tread was starting to separate from the sidewall. Told me not to drive the vehicle on the highway at all due to impending danger. Took vehicle to Ford, they told me they could not replace the tires. Called firestone, they would replace with the same tires that I was having trouble with. Called Ford CO. In detroit, customer service told me that nothing could be done, firestone problem. I got the run around. Replaced tires on my own and have saved the firestone tires should they be recalled for tread separation. (dot number: w208 tiresize: p235/70r16).

All 4 tires on vehicle replaced with general ameri 550 as p235 70r16 tires on 8/6/99 at odometer 44,763 miles as part of normal service. Left front tire on 7/20/01 at odometer approx. 68,400 miles began to deteriorate as indicated by vehicle vibration at 50 mph speed. Over next 3-4 days, vehicle shaking got worse. Inspected tires and found front left had separation of tread at spot between sidewall and flat surface approx. 15 in. Long. Other 3 tires were ok based upon amateur visual inspection. Vehicle is used exclusively on highway and city driving (no off-road or contruction sites) by wife and three children at normal rates of speed. Have replaced all 4 tires with michelin tires after reading USA today article on 7/25/01. (tiresize: p235 70r16).

Sidewall seperating from tread. Could see steel cords on both front tires. Dt.

Vehicle passed state inspection 04/27/01. On 05/20/01 while driving on 2 lane hwy at 50mph the left front tire separated at the outer sidewall causing a "blow out" 1/3 of tread became dislodged forcing us to pull to side of road with probable damage to the wheel. Fortunately, no-one in the vehicle or surrounding vehicles were injured. Of note we had our two children ages 2&3 in the vehicle with us. We have contacted both Ford motor CO. And firestone and have been treated rather rudely and informed that these tires are not under recallat this time. I came across an article from August 2000 that stated that the NHTSA considered any wilderness at/ht with dot #'s ofvd,hy,w2 were considered unsafe. Have there been any other reported problems with these tires and is there any recourse we should take? (dot number: w208 tiresize: p235/70r16).

Checking my tires I found the right front tire coming apart. The tread is separating along the area between tread and sidewall. It looks like someone is just pulling the tread off and leaving the tire with the belts showing. The tire still has plenty of good tread. (dot number: w2081pt tiresize: p235/70r16).

While driving, passenger rear goodyear wrangler ap tire p255/70r16 dot pdcuf8wr416 exploded from inner and outer sidewall, consumer replaced all 4 tires, the remaining tires still had good tread depth remaining.

Temperature was over 100 degrees. Tread seperated from the sidewall. ( dot number: tire size: p235/70r16 ).

Last summer (2000) my family and I were driving from merced, CA to santa cruz, CA for vacation. The temps were around 100 degrees. I have a 1997 F-150 XLT extended cab with wilderness ht tires and approximately 22,000 miles. The right rear tire sidewall separated from the tread and blewout. I purchased another wilderness ht tire in santa cruz for a replacement. This was about one month before the recall of the wilderness at tires. This year during the same trip and same conditions and about 27,000 miles on the same truck we arrived in santa cruz and I noticed the right rear tire had a large chunk of tread missing and the steel belt was exposed. This was along the side of the tire near the sidewall. I examine the left rear tire and noticed a crack forming in the same area. I had placed the new tire purchased in 2000 on the front of the truck with the spare and the tires on the back were original equipment tires. I still have the tires and photographs of the separation. (dot number: w208 tiresize: p235/70r16).

Pe00 020; consumer was inspecting vehicle, and tires didn't look good. All four tires has spider cracks all around sidewall. Firestone, wilderness atx, p2357516. She will contacted firestone.

Firestone wilderness ht right rear tire p235/70r16 began to shread along sidewall while driving, consumer safely pulled to the shoulder and put on spare, tire did not experience a blowout.

Consumer was checking vehicle in front of his home and noticed that steel belt was coming from the tire. Also, steel belts were comimng from other two at 34,000 miles. They were firestone wilderness tires #ht10s #p23570r16. All four tires were replaced. Dot #w208ipt236, all four tires experienced sidewall separation.

Sidewall seperation after approximately 1,000 miles. Purchased from mobile/firestone; us2 service center; 1301 e cloverland drive; ironwood, mi 49938 (906-932-0700). Tire replaced free of charge. ( dot number: tire size: 255/70/r16 ).

At about 18,000 miles one of the front tires that had been patched prior to my purchase split at the patch (about the center of the tread) so replaced both front tires at this time as reccommended by firestone dealer. This was a slow developing problem. . Slow leak. Within 10 days replaced one of these. Sidewall split after barely brushing a curb. When I say barely brushing, those rubber nipples on new tires were not even rubbed off. About April of 2000 I suffered a high speed blowout (65 mph) in one of the rear tires. Total mileage about 23000. Still a lot of tread left on the rear tires and front ones like new. . . I chose to replace all 4 at that time due to fears for my safety. Dealers claimed all problems were road hazards and not under any warranty. I am 48 years old and have been driving since age16. Many of those years were on the road sales with as much as 55000 miles/yr. I have never. . . Repeat never had to replace a tire before the tread wore out. ( dot number: w208 tire size: p235 70r16 ).

Firestone tires sidewalls cracked.

All 4 tires showed cracking where the sidewall meets the tread. I had them replaced sue to safety concerns( dot number: tire size: p235 70r16 ).

Tire was loosely installed resulting in excessive wear to the sidewalls (goodyear wrangler p225/70r16). Mjs.

Original equipment on a 1997, f150, p235/75r16 size. Tread is starting to crack along the sidewall.

2 of 4 tires have developed considerable cracks around the tread line on the sidewall of the tire. I have taken the truck to 2 different firestone dealers and get varied inspection reports. At one of the service centers, a service mechanic tells me that he "wouldn't drive the vehichle on the highway under any circumstances in the state that they (tires) are in" while his manager tells me that "the cracks are probably caused by armor all". The other service center manager I took the truck to tells me that he has placed a call in to firestone to see about this particular incident since the tires are not on the recall list but are questionable. He was to get back to me but has not to date. My initial complaint was intermittant shutter in the front end when braking hard from high speed. The problem didn't seem to be brake related but might be tire related given that it doesn't happen all of the time and that the cracking tires are on the front of the truck. They were purchased from a local firestone dealer as replacements for the oem wilderness ht tires sold on the truck when I purchased it new and have about 32,000 miles on them. Firestone will not tell me that they are safe but will not replace them because they are on "not on the list". One manager did tell me that firestone would probably end up replacing additional tire sizes in the future. I am no tire expert but given the cracks developing which are more than "cosmetic" it would appear that there are more issues with other sizes of this line of tire from firestone. Any assistance or advise would be greatly appreciated. Sincerely, steven d. Terrell( dot number: tire size: p255-70r16 ).

The firestone wilderness ht p235/70r16 tires experienced blisters on the sidewall, which caused vibration while driving.