Six problems related to tire have been reported for the 1997 Ford F-350. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
We were travelling 65 mph on the 91 freeway toll road when my left rear tire tread completely separated from the casing causing my vehicle to swerve and jump and causing significant damage to my vehicle, including damaging the fuel fill line. Fortunately there was no fuel leakage. The tire did not deflate so there was no puncture or other externally caused damage to the tire or vehicle. I took the tire to a bf goodrich dealer on 10/19/14 for inspection, the tire was still fully inflated. The dealer deflated the tire out of safety concerns. Had this been a front tire the potential for damage and injury would have significantly increased. The tire was purchased in July 2012 and was just over 2 years old. Tire dot# is bfw8 0211 0712.
Tread separation at highway speeds. Clear highway. No road hazard involved. Separation was immediate and involved center tread/entire tire. Additional damage caused by the tread catching/folding factory installed mud flap over the top of both rear dual tires. Damage incurred to wheel well/fender frame. Immediate loss of control/sway into left lane of traffic. (tiresize: p23585r16)( dot number: tire size: p23585r16 ).
Per friendly Ford dealership in las vegas, the tread separated from the left front tire. ( dot number: tire size: t235/85r16 ).
I have had two of these firestone steel tex r4s tires "blow out" while driving on the interstate with my family. The first one was in August of 1999 in ohio on a warm, but not hot day. We were driving along and boom it went. Fortunately, it was one of the rear duel tires and not a front tire. I was able to control the vehicle and get it safely stopped. Firestone replaced this tire. The other was in March of 1999 on a cool day in indiana. We were driving and got a terrible shimmy and the vehicle became difficult to drive. Suddenly, boom, another rear duel tire went. I again managed to get it off the road and got it changed. Firestone wouldn't give me a new tire on this one. They allowed a replacement value. I am disgusted with firestone tires. Last March, before the media attention to the problem, I had vowed to never have another firestone tire on my vehicles. I shudder to think what might have happened if one of the blowouts had been a front tire on this 14,000 pound vehicle. Please pursue this with vigor. I want new "non firestone" tires that I can trust on my future trips. Thank you. (dot number: vnilix8 tiresize: 225/75r16).
No summary issued for above vehicle. ( dot number: tire size: lt235 85 1 ).
Tires constantly leak air.