Tire Sidewall problems of the 2001 Ford F-350

Tire tread separation  firestone steeltex radial a/t 265-75-r16 load range e dot number vnw81xl4600. While driving eastbound on us-60 just past the florence junction interchange with my spouse and infant child in the vehicle, the left front tire suffered a tread separation causing the tire to explode and go flat. Noise from the tread departing the tire was heard seconds before the tire ruptured. Handling was difficult while the tread was separating and became more difficult after the tire lost air pressure. The vehicle was pulled from the right lane into the left lane and nearly departed the roadway. Significant damage occurred to the vehicle. Repairs are at $3700 and rising not including tire replacement. The tires are rotated regularly according to the vehicle manufacturers 5-tire rotation schedule and a visual inspection of the tires minutes before the failure revealed that no tires were under-inflated. The Ford dealer replaced one of the tires when the vehicle was only a few months old because of pulling. After the first tire rotation, the vehicle pulled in the opposite direction indicating that at least one of the new tires was defective. Tread wear is very mild on the tires with approximately â½ inch of tread remaining. Sidewalls on the tires show dryness but a failure did not appear imminent. Mileage is just over 32,000. It seems obvious that a manufacturing defect caused these tires to fail well before tread wear was at a hazardous level. It is surprising and disappointing the NHTSA has not ordered a recall of these tires when research on the NHTSA web-site indicates several failures similar to tires that were previously recalled. If these tires were common on sport utility vehicles instead of long wheel base pick-up trucks and excursions, they would have been pulled from the roadways long ago as other firestone products have been. At this time, firestone has not warranted any of the tires as the vehicle is still in the repair shop.

There's a separation on the side of the tire. General tire, 17235/85r16. Four out of six tires had sidewall separations that were serious. Ford finally declared four of the six as being defective and replaced them. Cosnumer was having the vehicle checked when the claims adjuster pointed out that the two front tires had tread separation deep enough for a dime to fit 1/8th of an inch. The separations were two to four inches in length. The two outer back tires also have tread separation but not as deep as the front two. Ford trys to characterize the defects as unusual tread wear. The defects were actually sidewall separations. Consumer was only partially reimbursed for the defects.

While driving on a well marked and well used dirt/rock backroad at 10-20 mph, the left rear tire suddenly failed catastrophically. The tread separated from the sidewalls and the inner sidewall wrapped itself around the axel severing the flexible rubber hydraulic brake hose. Since the sidewalls were destroyed, I am unable to furnish the dot number you requested. (tiresize: 265/75 r16)( dot number: tire size: 265/75 r16 ).

Three out of the five new tires delivered with vehicle had bubbles on the sidewall. (tiresize: 265 75 r16)( dot number: tire size: 265 75 r16 ).