Tire Sidewall problems of the 1997 Mercury Mountaineer

Original equipment on a 1997, mountineer, p235/75r15 size, dot#: yn. Tread on right rear tire has started to separate from side.

These tires although they are not on a recall list have a hairline crack around the sidewall where the sidewall meets the tread. Three of the tires have this crack one doesn't. ( dot number: tire size: 235/75/15 ).

Pe00020, bought used on a 1997 Mountaineer, p235/75r15, dot w2hl1py. All four tires are "dry rotten" and have a cracked from the edge of the tread,and where the sidewall meets, which may cause tread to come off in all the same spot. Also, while driving it has been more bouncing. The customer wants firestone to pay the replacement cost for failed tires.

This defect involves sidewall deterioration and abnormal wear. The car was bought with 35000mi and immediately they started wearing. In June the first two started losing air between the base of the tread & sidewall. In early July the other 2 followed suit. We replaced all 4 tires with b. F. Goodrich with an lt rating. Also, tire pressure was kept at 30psi instead of 26 at all times. ( dot number: unknown tire size: p23575r15 ).

Crack [seperation?] around circumference on sidewalls ,3/4 inch in from tread( dot number: w2hl tire size: p235/75r15 ).

Tire failed at 60 mph. Sidewall blew out. I saved tire. ( dot number: w2hl tire size: p235sr15 ).

Pe-00-020; original equipment, tire size p23575r16, dot number hyh11ply508. Right frontal tire sidewall was out of round or out of shape, causing a shimmy in steering wheel when driving. Firestone wilderness at tires.

Front tires have developed cracks along the sidewall. Tire size p235/75r15 and dot # vnhl376.

We bought our Mercury Mountaineer in January, 1998 (mfgd in April, 1997) serial #4m2du52p2vuj64616 and within the first year we noticed the sidewall and tire tread was peeling from the tire. We brought this to the dealer's attention (hatfield's Lincoln Mercury located in columbus, OH) and they dismissed it. We told them the SUV vibrated and rumbled and rode very, very rough. They said to rotate the tires. It continued to do it and continues to this day (9/13/00). We have had the tires rotated many times. We are very much concerned about this situation and follow the news releases closely since the tire recall. We have had much trouble with these tires and the garage continuously dismissed our concerns. We travel cross country at posted speeds and throughout the southwest frequently. We have now moved to albuquerque, nm, and are even more concerned since it is hot weather and desert area. We continue to have rumble and vibration in the tires. We went to a firestone dealer to check the dot code and he said they were w2. We checked with another location and they said the same, w2. However, as we have always believed, the peeling is very evident including the tread layer. We are uncomfortable with these facts. We believe a further investigation should be conducted and our tires recalled as well. Should anything horrible happen, it would be a terrible travesty of justice. We feel firestone is responsible and Ford and the nhsa should hold them as such. ( dot number: w2 tire size: p235/75r15 ).

Firestone wilderness/at tires on this vehicle, size p235r75/15 have been replaced 4 times due to sidewall and tread separation. This happened whenever consumer traveled to florida, and arizona. Firestone has been contacted.

Tire tread separated from the sidewall. The consumer had four tires installed on the SUV and when they reached 1/2 of tread, the two front tires experienced sidewall separation.