2002 Ford F-350 Tires & Wheels Problems

[XXX] tire on passenger’s rear began to have significant vibration while towing 16,000 lb. fifth-wheel RV. Stopped and visually/tactilely determined unusual wear pattern so went to commercial tire shop in Pahrump, NV. Their inspection determined tread separation rendering the tire unusable so we replaced it with a different brand. This is the third of three tires installed at the same time that have suffered tread separation failure. The first was in July 2023 and was not reported to NHTSA, but when two more tires failed at the same time, I decided to report. Because this type of failure does not produce TPMS warnings, it could have been a catastrophic failure that might have resulted in damage to our vehicles and/or a crash with significant injury to us or other motorists. With three failures from the same batch of tires on our vehicle, I believe there is a serious problem with this batch of tires and they should be recalled. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

[XXX] tire on driver's rear began to have significant vibration while towing 16,000 lb. fifth-wheel RV. Stopped and visually/tactilely determined unusual wear pattern so went to commercial tire shop in Pahrump, NV. Their inspection determined tread separation rendering the tire unusable so we replaced it with a different brand. This is the second of three tires installed at the same time that have suffered tread separation failure. The first was in July 2023 and was not reported to NHTSA, but when two more tires failed at the same time, I decided to report. Because this type of failure does not produce TPMS warnings, it could have been a catastrophic failure that might have resulted in damage to our vehicles and/or a crash with significant injury to us or other motorists. With three failures from the same batch of tires on our vehicle, I believe there is a serious problem with this batch of tires and they should be recalled. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-350 EQUIPPED WITH COOPER DEAN MUD TERRAIN RADIAL SXT TIRES, SIZE: LT285/75R16. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK AS IT SLOWED DOWN AND THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRE DID NOT FALL WITHIN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO WARRANTY ON THE TIRE. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE AND TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,086. *LN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-350 EQUIPPED WITH BF GOODRICH RUGGED TERRAIN T/A TIRES, SIZE: LT285/75R16 (NA). WHILE THE CONTACT'S SON WAS DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT A SHUDDER IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT FELT A BUMP, HEARD AN EXPLODING NOISE, AND ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. THE CONTACT PLANNED ON GIVING THE TIRE TO THE MANUFACTURER TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED. THE TIRES WERE REPLACEMENT TIRES. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE TIRE WAS NOT REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,500 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,500.

AFTER EXPERIENCING TIRE FAILURE / TREAD SEPARATION ON LR TIRE, INSPECTION OF REMAINING TIRES PERFORMED FOR SIGNS OF TREAD SEPARATION. CRACKS NOTED IN TIRE ON RR WHICH WAS PURCHASED AT THE SAME TIME AS LR BETWEEN TREAD AND SIDEWALL.

TRAVELING WESTBOUND ON INTERSTATE 8 JUST WEST OF CA/AZ BORDER AT 3PM PDT. WEATHER IS SUNNY WITH AMB TEMP APPROX 105 DEGREES. WITHOUT WARNING AN EXPLOSION / COMPLETE TIRE FAILURE. 2-3 SECONDS AFTER EXPLOSION TREAD COMPLETELY SEPARATES FROM TIRE. DAMAGE TO LR BODY PANEL, WHEEL WELL AND ASSOCIATED PARTS. TIRE REPLACEMENT ALONG WITH REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OF DAMAGED BODY PARTS DONE TO CORRECT PROBLEM.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-350 EQUIPPED WITH NITRO TIRES, TIRE LINE: TERRA GRAPPLE, AND TIRE SIZE: LT285/75/R16. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AS THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE THREAD ON THE TIRE HAD SEPARATED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE TIRE WITH A SPARE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WITH A TOTAL OF FIVE TIRES MOUNTED IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. UPDATED 01/27/17*LJ CONSUMER STATED HE STARTED TO FEEL A BUMPING IN THE REAR AREA OF MY TRUCK, THEN A VIOLENT VIBRATION, THEN THE TIRE BLOWOUT OCCURRED/ ROAD CONDITIONS WERE CLEAR AND DRY. UPDATED 9/5/18*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-350. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL SPOKE BECAME FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL TO CRACK. THE WHEEL WAS REPLACED WITH A SPARE TIRE BY THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS 137,000.

THIS SPECTOR TIRE JUST BLEW UP. THE TIRE SEPARATED AT THE TREAD AND SPLIT OPEN 6-8 INCHES. *JB

ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE A CONTINUOUS CUT ALL THE WAY AROUND THE SIDEWALL. BF GOODRICH LT285/75R16. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-350 PICKUP TRUCK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER MANEUVERING TO THE SHOULDER HE NOTICED THAT SIX OF THE STUDS ON THE DRIVER AND THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE ALUMINUM WHEEL SNAPPED OFF CAUSING THE LUG NUTS TO FALL OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE STUDS AND LUG NUTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED ON ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 168,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-350, EQUIPPED WITH THE GOODRIDE RADAR LT9 (N/A) TIRES, TIRE SIZE LT235/85/R16. THE TIRES ARE A YKS/FOREIGN TIRE BRAND. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE LOCATED NEAR THE TIRE RIM. THE TIRE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE CRACK WAS CAUSED BY MISUSE OF THE TIRE. THE TIRES WERE FOR NIGHTTIME USE AND HAD BEEN SUBJECTED TO SUN EXPOSURE. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS 195,200. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

I AM WRITING TO REPORT A TIRE DEFECT AND A RESULTANT ACCIDENT, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO BODILY INJURY TO MYSELF OR TWO YOUNG GRANDSONS I HAD APPROXIMATELY $2,000 DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. THANKFULLY I HAD THE PRESENCE OF MIND TO SAFELY NAVIGATE THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F350 TREAD WAYS EL DORADO ZTR SPORT LT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE CONTACT WAS UNINJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE CRASH, HE NOTICED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE TREAD WAS TORN FROM THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIRES WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06T008000 (TIRES: TREAD/BELT). THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000.

MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE RUPTURED WHILE TRAVELING NORTH, ON I-15 ABOUT 5 TO 10 MILES SOUTH OF PAYSON, UTAH. THE TRUCK WAS A 2002 FORD F350 SUPERDUTY AND THESE WERE THE ORIGINAL TIRES. I WAS GOING ABOUT 65-70 MPH WHEN THE TIRE BURST AND WAS LUCKY TO KEEP CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE TIRE TORE APART AND CAUSED ABOUT $2800 WORTH OF BODY DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. IT HAS NOW BEEN REPAIRED BY GREINER FORD IN CASPER, WYO. WHILE THE TRUCK WAS A 2002, IT HAD LESS THAN 10,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK AND THE TIRES. THE TREAD DEPTH WAS STILL EXCELLENT. THE FACTORY EQUIPPED TIRES ARE THE FIRESTONE STEELTEX A/T SIZE LT265, 75R16. IF THE TRUCK HAD ROLLED OVER THIS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F350 SUPERDUTY TRUCK WITH LT265/75R16 FIRESTONE STEEL RADIAL A/T/ TIRES. THE LEFT REAR ORIGINAL TIRE WAS FLAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. HE ATTEMPTED TO ADD AIR TO THE TIRE; HOWEVER, HE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. HE ALSO MADE ATTEMPTS TO FIND THE LEAK AND COULD NOT FIND ONE. THE REMAINING TREAD DEPTH HAS EXTENDED TO THE WEB SAFETY BARS. HE DID NOT IMPACT ANY POTHOLES OR ROAD HAZARDS BEFORE THE INCIDENT. A COUPLE OF DEALERS STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO OFFER HIM ANY ASSISTANCE. THERE WAS A VOLUNTARY RECALL; HOWEVER, HE WAS ADVISED THAT IT ONLY APPLIED TO THE FORD EXCURSION. THE VIN AND DOT NUMBERS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 43000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F350 SUPER DUTY. THE VEHICLE HAS FIRESTONE LT26575R16 TIRES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE EXPLODED AND SHATTERED INTO PIECES WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 154,000.

ON JUNE 12, 2008 WE WERE DRIVING UP ROUTE 301 NORTH JUST AFTER THE RT. 50 SPLIT WHEN THERE WAS A BLOW OUT ON THE LEFT FRONT TIRE ON OUR TRUCK. IT WAS FRIGHTENING AND I WAS BARELY ABLE TO CONTROL THE TRUCK AND GET TO THE BREAK DOWN LANE. I OBSERVED A PORTION OF THE TIRE FLYING OFF TO MY LEFT. WE CALLED THE MD STATE HIGHWAY PATROL AND AN OFFICER RESPONDED AND EXAMINED THE WHEEL AND REMAINDER OF THE TIRE. THIS WAS A CLASSIC CASE OF TREAD SEPARATION AND THERE WAS OVER $2000 OF DAMAGE TO THE LEFT FRONT FENDER, BUMPER AND RUNNING BOARD OF THE TRUCK. GEICO HANDLED THE INSURANCE CLAIM AND THE TRUCK HAS BEEN REPAIRED. ALL OF THE TIRES ON THE TRUCK AT THAT TIME WERE GENERAL GRABBER TR, LT 235/85R16, DK-6559 32628 *TR

I FIRST BOUGHT PRO COMP TIRES A COUPLE OF YEARS A GO. WITHIN TEN THOUSAND MILES I HAD A BULGE ON ONE TIRE AND A VIBRATION AT 55 MPH AND OVER. I TOOK THE TRUCK INTO 4WHEEL PARTS AS THAT IS WHERE THEY WERE PURCHASED. I HAD TWO BAD TIRES ACCORDING TO THEM AND THEY REPLACED THEM WHICH COST ME APPROXIMATELY $200. AFTER A TRIP TO ARIZONA AND LESS THAN 7000 MILES I STARTED HAVING A VIBRATION PROBLEM AGAIN. TOOK BACK TO 4WHEEL PARTS AND THEY SAID ONE WAS COMING APART AND ONE WAS OUT OF BALANCE. IT COST ME $150 THIS TIME. I TOLD THEM THAT THE COST WERE INAPROPRIATE AS PRO COMP IS A COMPANY THAT THEY OWN. TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT UP WITH PRO COMP. THESE TIRES ARE A DANGER TO THE PUBLIC AND MOST IMPORTANTLY THE ONES THAT BUY THEM. MY TIRES ARE E RATED FOR MY TRUCK AND HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH BIG O TIRES OR BFGS. MY TIRES ARE ALWAYS IN GOOD SHAPE AS I TOW A FIFTH WHEEL. LOOK INTO THIS MATTER PLEASE. I WILL BE REPLACING MINE AS SOON AS I HAVE THE MONEY AND JUST WILL EAT THE COST AS SAFETY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOR ME AND MY FAMILY ALONG WITH THE PUBLIC THAT I SERVE. I DO NOT HAVE THE TIRES AS 4WHEEL PARTS HAS KEPT THEM. *TR

IN NOVEMBER 2007 MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. TWO YEARS AGO THE LEFT FRONT TIRE EXPLODED. THANK FULLY THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY EITHER TIME, WHICH PREVENTED AN ACCIDENT AND DAMAGE TO OTHERS. MY TRUCK DAMAGE TOTALED ABOUT $ 3500 TO $ 4000 FOR EACH EVENT. THE FENDER AND RUNNING BOARD AND OTHER ITEMS ON THE TRUCK WERE DAMAGED BY THE EXPLODING TIRE / TREAD THAT CAME APART. THE TIRES WERE OEM, GENERAL GRABBER TR, 235 85R16 LOAD RANGE E. THE VEHICLE IS A 2002 F 350 DUALLY. BOTH HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH. I SENT THE LAST FAILED TIRE TO GENERAL AND THEY CLAIM THAT THE TIRE WAS DAMAGED DUE TO AN IMPACT, NOT A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I DISAGREE, THE TIRE JUST UNZIPPED ITSELF. THE TRUCK HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN ON HIGHWAYS AND LOCAL STREETS. I HAVE NOT HIT ANY POTHOLES. THOUGH WE ALL GO OVER SPEED BUMPS, A LOAD RANGE E TIRE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO OVER A SPEED BUMP AT SLOW SPEED. TIRES WERE PROPERLY INFLATED TO 60 PSIG. TREAD LIFE ON THE TIRES IS EXCELLENT. FOR TWO FAILURES FOR ME, A SIMILAR FAILURE FOR A CO-WORKER AND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON DIESEL TRUCK MESSAGE BOARDS, THERE APPEARS TO BE A TREND OF EXPLODING 10 PLY GENERAL TIRES. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. THE COMPANY NO LONGER MANUFACTURERS THIS SPECIFIC TIRE. *TR