Tire Sidewall problems of the 1999 Mercury Mountaineer

Total sidewall and belt failure on right rear tire on a 1999 Mercury Mountaineer. The tires were the replacements for the firestone tire recall in 2001. The tires have 28,000 mile on them in the four years.

Upon inspection of all 4 tires on vehicle, 3 of the tires (1 driver's front, 2 rear) were noted to have small cracks/splits around each tire sidewall approximately 3 inches below the top of the tread. Front tire has the greatest number of cracks. ( dot number: w2hlipy tire size: p235/75r15 ).

Firestone wilderness at tires have visible cracks in the sidewall of all four tires, on one occasion a tire blew bouncing the rear of the car off the ground so hard that the dash lights, cd player and electronic monitor shut down completely. Nlm.

Consumer was told that the firestone tires were not covered under recall because they were not manufactured in decatur, the tires have pieces of the sidewall beginning to peel away. Nlm.

This tire is not on the recall list, all tires are splitting on the sidewalls. ( dot number: w2hl tire size: p225/70r15 ).