Jeff lloyd stated (and overstated)...
> Hey everyone, anyone with a ford explorer or any other SUV that uses OEM
> firestone tires please be warned they have been experiencing catastrophic
> failures, there are 50 deaths so far from failed tires, and at least 500
> incidents of sudden complete blowout with no warning signs in the U.S.
> alone!!! This affects the wilderness lines and the ATX lines in all sizes,
> possibly more!! So go and check your tow vehicles, check with firestone,
> and Ford has released a statement since all ford exploders sold recently
> came with "know to be bad" tires!!! This is a life or death situation
> please heed my warning and take proper actions ASAP!!!
What's your source for those numbers?
USA Today says...
> NHTSA says it has reports of 21 deaths and 193 crashes involving those tires.
While I don't want to say there isn't a problem with the tires, I wonder how
many of those incidents are due to underinflation, which seems to the main
cause of "just blew with no warning." On top of that, add in the possibility
that the Ford Explorer could be a bit on the tippy side, you have a recipe
for a problem. (Add in my pet peeve - how many were on the phone at the
time?)
How often do you think people *really* check their tire pressure?
Ford did issue a tech bulletin when the Explorers first came out telling
dealers and tire dealers not to put any tires other than light truck
all-terrain style tires on them, as the vehicle wasn't designed to handle
any increase in cornering power. Any connection?
I wonder how many problems the same tires have been involved in on the more
stable Subaru Forester?
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