1998 Ford E-350 Tires & Wheels Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD E-350 EQUIPPED WITH STARFIRE SF-510 TIRES, SIZE LT245-75-R16 (NA). WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A STATE INSPECTION, THE SIDEWALL OF THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS FOUND WITH INTERNAL INDENTATIONS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRE WAS NOT REPLACED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

I PURCHASED A TOTAL OF 7 MICHELIN LTX M/S TIRES LT225/75R16 E FOR MY MINI MOTORHOME. THEY ARE DRY-ROTTING RIGHT OFF THE RIMS. THIS IS AN ESTABLISHED PROBLEM. WHEN I WAS DIRECTED TO A DEALER (FORREST TIRE OF ARTESIA, NM) I WAS OFFERED A DISCOUNT ON BUYING MORE TIRES. I WAS EXTREMELY DISMAYED THAT MICHELIN WAS QUERYING THE TIRE DEALER ABOUT THE MAKE, MODEL, YEAR AND MILEAGE OF MY MOTORHOME! WHAT HAS THAT GOT TO DO WITH DEFECTIVE/DANGEROUS TIRES? I SPOKE WITH A MAN WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH LTX M/S TIRES THAT CAME ON HIS NEW PICKUP AND THEY WERE REPLACED FOR MOUNTING AND BALANCING ONLY. I PURCHASED TWO FOR THE FRONT, BUT SIMPLY CAN'T BUY ALL 7 ON SOCIAL SECURITY, THEN SUE MICHELIN. THESE ARE LOT NUMBERS B3JH FBXX 0905, 0205, AND 4204. I CAN SCRAPE DRIED RUBBER OFF THE SIDEWALL WITH MY FINGERNAIL! THIS IS DANGEROUS, AND I AM SITTING HERE AFRAID TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY, WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN. *TR

SEVERE CRACKING OF SIDEWALLS OF MOTORHOME TIRES THAT ARE ONLY 3 YEARS OLD. CRACKING BEGAN IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR. *TR

PE0 020; WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY HEARD A LOUD NOISE. WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDER,AND REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE COMPLETELY. TFIRESTONE, LT225/7516, DOTDA1809. *AK

THE RESCUE VEHICLE HAD TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY THREE MILES WHEN THE DRIVERS SIDE INSIDE DUAL WHEEL SUFFERED A TREAD SEPARATION OF 25% OF THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE TIRE. THE RESCUE HAD TO DISCONTINUE ITS EMERGENCY RESPONSE. I HAVE CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER, WHO IS CONTACTING COOPER DIRECTLY. THE LOCAL DEALER HAS TOLD ME THAT THIS WILL BE TREATED AS A "ROAD HAZARD" FROM MY OBSERVATION IT APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE SEPARATION, AND I HAVE CONCERNS IN REGARDS TO A SIMILLAR OCCURENCE WITH THE REMAINING TIRES AS THIS IS AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE AND THE LIVES OF MY CREWS AND THE PUBLIC RELY ON THIS VEHICLE BEING RELIABLE. PLEASE CONTACT ME. *AK (DOT NUMBER: UP11C1A506 TIRESIZE: LT 245/75R)

TIRE BLEW UP IN DRIVEWAY. THE TREAD LAYERS BLEW APART AND THE FORCE SPLIT THE SIDEWALLS ON BOTH SIDES. I DO NOT DARE DRIVE THE VAN UNTIL OTHER FIRESTONES ARE REPLACED. IF I HAD BEEN DRIVING A YOUTH GROUP OR MY FAMILY ON THE FREEWAY (MY NORMAL USE OF THE VAN), IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. IT IS A MIRACLE THAT THIS TIRE EXPLODED WHILE NOT BEING DRIVEN. *AK (TIRESIZE: LT225/75R1)

WE HAVE EXPERIENCED FOUR CATASTROPHIC TIRE FAILURES IN LESS THAT ONE YEAR. ALL WERE ON 15-PASSENGER FORD VANS USED TO TRANSPORT STUDENTS. EACH FAILURE INVOLVED THE REAR TIRES. THERE WAS NO WARNING. THE TIRE EXPLODED SO VIOLENTLY THAT THE VAN SHOOK. THE TREAD CAME COMPLETELY OFF AND DESTROYED THE REAR HEATING. WE JUST NOTICED THAT A FIFTH TIRE HAD A LARGE BULGE INDICATING THAT A FAILURE WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. ABOUT 8 YEARS AGO ONE OF OUR VANS HAD A BLOWOUT AND ROLLED KILLING ONE CHEARLEADER AND SERIOUSLY INJURING SEVERAL MORE. I DO NOT KNOW IF THAT TIRE WAS A GOODYEAR WORKHORSE. WHAT CAN YOUR AGENCY TELL ME ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS BRAND OF TIRE? ARE THERE ANY LOAD E TIRES THAT YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED COMPLAINTS ABOUT?( DOT NUMBER: )

THE LEFT FRONT STEER TIRE TREAD JUST CAME OFF - THE TIRE WAS STILL HOLDING AIR AND DID NOT GO FLAT UNTIL THE MOTORHOME SLOWED DOWN AND GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY - ALL THAT'S LEFT WAS STEEL CORD ALL THE WAY AROUND - THESE TIRES SHOULD NOT BE USED ON MOTORHOMES AS COULD KILL A LOT OF FAMILIES. WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH THE TIRE? SHOULD I REPLACE ALL 6? SHOULD FIRESTONE REPLACE THEM ? THERE IS ABOUT 5000 MILES ON THIS SET OF TIRES.*AK (DOT NUMBER: VDIL1XD329 TIRESIZE: LT22575R16)

TREAD SEPARATED, LEFT REAR INSIDE TIRE. IN MAY OF 2000, TREAD SEPERATED ON RIGHT REAR INSIDE R4S TIRE, SO I HAVE A 50% FAILURE RATE ON REAR TIRES. DEALER SAYS RIGHT OUTSIDE REAR R4S TIRE SHOULD BE REPLACED---HAS CRACK ON OUTSIDE WALL BELOW TREAD.*AK (TIRESIZE: 225/75R16E)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/75R16E )

RIGHT REAR TIRE SEPARATED AT SIDE SEAM CAUSING THE TIRE TO DEFLATE AND MADE IT HARD TO CONTROL THE RV. THE DEFECTIVE TIRE WAS PROPERLY INFLATED AT 80 PSI AS REQUIRED BY FORD AND THE RV INSTRUCTIONS. THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE SEEMS TO BE WEARING IMPROPERLY. WE ARE PLANNING ON A CROSS-COUNTRY TRIP THIS MONTH AND I'M HESITANT TO DRIVE ON THESE TIRES AS THE TREAD COULD SEPARATE THE SAME AS THIS DEFECTIVE TIRE. (TIRESIZE: LT225/7516)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: LT225/7516 )

COOPER C2L PASSENGER FRONT TIRE MADE A CLICKING SOUND DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION, TIRE SIZE 950R165LT DOT UPXLCNN283. *SLC

ONE TIRE FAILED (BLOWOUT) AT HIGHWAY SPEED. SECOND TIRE FAILED WHEN PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN. WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF SEVERAL OTHER RVERS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEELTEX TIRES. I SPOKE TO A FRIEND THAT HAS HAS 7 STEELTEX FAILURES. I HAVE REPLACED MY ALL OF MY STEELTEX TIRES TO PREVENT A POTENTIAL ACCIDENT OR DAMAGE TO OUR RV RESULTING FROM A BLOWOUT. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF I CAN BE COMPENSATED FOR THE EXPENDITURES INCURRED IN REPLACING OUR DEFECTIVE STEELTEX TIRES BEFORE THEY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT OR FATALITY IN MY FAMILY. REGARDS, RICK (DOT NUMBER: VD1L 1XD TIRESIZE: LT225/75R1)

WHILE ON VACATION IN ALASKA DURING THE PERIOD OF 05/20/99 THRU 07/10/99, WE EXPERIENCED 2 MAJOR BLOWOUTS. ONE CAUSING $3000 OF REPAIR COSTS TO THE LEFT UNDERSIDE OF THE MOTORHOME. THREE OTHER TIRES HAVE WORN UNEVENLY ON THE OUTSIDE EDGE. ONE HAS BEEN REPLACED. *AK (DOT NUMBER: VD1L1XO167 TIRESIZE: R16MF)

TIRE TREAD SEPARATION. *AK