2005 Ford F-350 Tires & Wheels Problems

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE I-85 IN NORTH GA ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH TRAVELING 65MPH. REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE TREAD FLIES OFF. TRUCK ROCKS AND MAKES A LOT OF NOISE. ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND MOVE TO EMERGENCY LANE. TIRE APPEARS TO HAVE PEELED APART LIKE A BANANA. *DT*JB

TIRE FAILURE CAUSING ACCIDENT WITH PROPERTY DAMAGE AND MINOR INJURIES. TIRE WAS THE FRONT LEFT TIRE ON A 2005 FORD F350 4X4 SRW. TIRE HAD APPROXIMATELY 25,000 MILES. ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE TOWING A FIFTH WHEEL TOY HAULER TRAILER. TRAILER IS 25' LONG WITH AN APPROXIMATE EMPTY WEIGHT OF 5500 LBS. ALSO IN THE TRAILER WERE PERSONAL EFFECTS INCLUDING ONE MOTORCYCLE WITH AN APPROXIMATE WEIGHT OF 550 LBS. TIRE PRESSURE WAS CHECKED AT 76 PSI COLD 3 DAYS PRIOR TO INCIDENT. ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE WEATHER WAS SUNNY WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE 70S TO LOW 80S. SPEED OF VEHICLE AT TIME OF INCIDENT WAS 60-65 MPH. APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES PRIOR TO INCIDENT, A STOP WAS MADE FOR FUEL WITH DRIVER DOING A WALK AROUND VISUAL INSPECTION WITH NO DEFECTS NOTED. LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW WITH NO ADVANCED WARNING. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO PULL HARD TO THE LEFT. VEHICLE LEFT THE ROADWAY INTO THE MEDIAN. VEHICLE JACK-KNIFED AND OVERTURNED TO ITS RIGHT SIDE. GUARD RAIL STOPPED VEHICLE FROM ENTERING ONCOMING TRAFFIC. FIFTH WHEEL TRAILER OVERTURNED ONTO ITS RIGHT SIDE. OCCUPANTS OF VEHICLE, ONE ADULT MALE DRIVER AND ONE ADULT FEMALE PASSENGER SELF EXTRICATED VIA THE BACK WINDOW. DRIVER UNINJURED. PASSENGER NOTED MINOR CUTS, 'ROAD RASH', BRUISES AND PAIN TO LEFT WRIST. BOTH OCCUPANTS REFUSED TREATMENT AND TRANSPORT BY EMERGENCY RESPONDING UNITS. UPON INSPECTION, IT APPEARS, TO THE OPINION OF THE DRIVER, THAT THE TIRE FAILED AT THE SIDEWALL NEAR THE BEAD CAUSING A RAPID LOSS OF AIR AND SUBSEQUENT DELAMINATION OF TIRE STRUCTURE. THE TRUCK AND FIFTH WHEEL WAS TOTALLY DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. THE FEMALE PASSENGER CONTINUES TO MONITOR INJURIES WITH NO MEDICAL ATTENTION SOUGHT AT THIS TIME. TRUCK AND TRAILER WAS TOWED BY A LOCAL SALVAGE AND RECOVERY COMPANY TO THEIR YARD. TRUCK AND TRAILER WERE RELEASED BY THE DRIVER/OWNER TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY FOR INSPECTION, ALTHOUGH HE MAINTAINS OWNERSHIP OF VEHICLES.

THIS HAS TO DO WITH 19.5" WHEELS MANUFACTURED BY VISION WHEEL,SPECIFICALLY WHEEL # 81A-9770MBO. ON THE BACK OF THE WHEEL THERE IS A RELIEF MACHINED AROUND EACH LUG HOLE THAT IS ABOUT 1/8"DEEP X 3/4" IN DIA. WHETHER THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DESIGN OR A FLAW I AM NOT SURE,BUT PREVIOUS WHEELS OF THE SAME MODEL NO. DO NOT HAVE THIS AND ARE FLAT ON THE BACK. SHOULD THE LUGS NUTS BE OVER TIGHTENED IT CRACKS THE RIM AROUND THE LUG HOLE AND STARTS TO PULL THROUGH. I FOUND THIS SHORTLY AFTER I GOT MY TRUCK BACK FROM THE TIRE SHOP AND WAS LOOKING AT THE NEW WHEELS.IT IS NOT READILY NOTICEABLE AND WAS JUST LUCK THAT I SAW IT. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN ANY TIME A WHEEL IS TAKEN OFF FOR SOME SERVICE OR ANOTHER. IF THE WHEEL LUG NUTS GET OVER TORQUED THIS OCCURS. THESE WHEELS ARE USED PRIMARILY BY PEOPLE THAT CARRY HEAVY LOADS AS THE 19.5 TIRES AFFORD BETTER STABILITY. SHOULD SOMEONE NOT BE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF LOOSING A TIRE. THIS COULD BE RESOLVED SIMPLY BY NOT MACHINING THE BACK OF THE WHEEL AS WAS NOTED ABOVE. I BELIEVE THIS COULD BE A HAZARD. CONTACT INFO CAN BE OBTAINED HERE: HTTP://WWW.VISIONWHEEL.COM/CONTACT.CFM

TIRE BELT INSIDE FELL APART AND CAUSED FLAT TIRE. TIRES BOUNCE EVEN AFTER BEING BALANCED OVER AND OVER SHOWS TIRES ARE BALANCED BUT TIRES BOUNCE ON ROAD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD F-350 SD EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN TIRES, SIZE: LT245/75/R17 TIRES(N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE HOOD ON THE TRUCK, BEGAN TO VIBRATE IN A VIOLENT MANNER. WITHIN 2-3 SECONDS, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE EXPLODED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO PULL TOWARD THE RIGHT AND SWAY UNCONTROLLABLY OFF ROAD, THROUGH SAND, BRUSH ROCKS, ACROSS A CULVERT, WHICH CAUSED THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE, TO BECOME BURIED DEEP IN THE SAND. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE WHERE THE DEFECTIVE TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH A SPARE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A TIRE CENTER WHERE THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE TIRE CENTER REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE TIRE FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,462. UPDATED 6/17/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT REFUNDED THE COST OF THE BLOWN TIRE, STATING IT WAS DEFECTIVE. MICHELIN DISAGREED WITH THE RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS FINDINGS AND STATED THE TIRE WAS NOT DEFECTIVE. MICHELIN STATED THEIR INSPECTION REVEALED A RADIAL BREAK THROUGH THE CASING IN THE CROWN AREA FROM BEAD TO BEAD. A PORTION OF THE TREAD AND BOTH STEEL BELTS WERE DETACHED AND MISSING IN THAT AREA EXPOSING THE RADIAL CASING PILED. MICHELIN, WENT ON TO STATED, THAT INDICATED THE INNER LINER ALLOWING AIR TO INFILTRATE INTO THE CASING. AS THE TIRE REMAINED IN SERVICE, THE AIR INFILTRATION PROGRESSED, ULTIMATELY CAUSING THE TREAD TO DETACH. UPDATED 06/25/13

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD F-350 WITH CONTINENTAL TIRES, TIRE LINE SIZE 275/70/18. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, HE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STARTED JERKING VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE SIDEWALL WAS PEELING OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE SIDEWALL WAS CRACKED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE DOT NUMBER WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,000. UPDATED 8/30/11 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE TIRES WERE INSPECTED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THEY WERE FAULTY. UPDATED 09/26/11

ALUMINUM ALLOY WHEEL FRACTURING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY AROUND RIM. SECOND WHEEL TO FAIL IN THIS FASHION. *TR

ALUMINUM ALLOY WHEEL FRACTURING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY AROUND RIM. *TR

COMPLETE TREAD SEPARATION AROUND ENTIRE SIDEWALL ON LEFT (DRIVER) REAR CONTINENTAL CONITRAC TR LT275/70R18 125/122S TIRE WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH ON PAVEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS A FORD F-350 SUPER DUTY PICKUP CARRYING NO LOAD. ALL TIRES ON THE TRUCK ARE FACTORY ORIGINAL WITH 14,600 MILES AND EVEN TREAD WEAR. THERE APPEARED TO BE NO CHECKING OR OTHER DAMAGE TO THE TIRE PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. ALL TIRES WERE INFLATED AT RECOMMENDED LEVELS. THE TIRE IS AVAILABLE FOR PHYSICAL INSPECTION. I ALSO HAVE PHOTOS OF THE TIRE DAMAGE. NO DAMAGE OCCURRED TO THE VEHICLE WHEN STOPPING AFTER THE INCIDENT. *TR

TRUCK TENDS TO SHIMMY UNCONTROLLABLY AFTER HITTING BUMP 55 TO 70 MPH, WHEN THE TRUCK HAD 2500 MILES SHOCKS WERE REPLACED HELPED PROBLEM UNTIL 15,000 MILES RETURNED TO FORD. TSB FOR PROBLEM WAS TO INSTALL SHIMMY DAMPER ON LR OF TRUCK. NOT INSTALLED DUE TO CAMPER TIE DOWNS. PROBLEM CONTINUED TO GET WORSE, UNDRIVEABLE ABOVE 55 MPH AT 27,000 MILES. PROBLEM DOES NOT OCCUR WHEN HEAVILY LOADED ( CABOVER CAMPER) TIRE PRESSURE NOT A FACTOR LOADING IS. I ADDRESS THE PROBLEM AND THE SHIMMY WAS RELATED TO ONE PARTICULAR TIRE BEING MOUNTED ON THE FRONT. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED A BELT SEPARATION IN THE TIRE. ALL THE TIRES HAD SOME DEGREE OF BELT SEPARATION. REPLACED TIRES PROBLEM CURED SOMEWHAT. THE TRUCK STILL EXHIBITS THE TENDENCY TO SHIMMY ESPECIALLY WHEN LIGHTLY LOADED NO MATTER WHAT THE TIRE PRESSURE IS. I AM A ASE CERTIFIED MASTER TECH AND HAVE CURED 2 OTHER VEHICLES. ALL THREE VEHICLES STILL EXHIBIT THE SHIMMY TENDENCY BUT SELF DAMPEN WITH GOOD TIRES. ALL THREE VEHICLES HAD CONTINENTAL 275/70 18 TIRES OEM. THE SHIMMY TENDENCY SEEMS TO BE ENHANCED WITH THE CONTINENTAL TIRES FITTED AND GET WORSE WITH WEAR. THERE SEEMS TO BE A RESONANCE IN TRUCK FRONT SUSPENSION THAT GETS SYNCHRONIZED AS THE TIRES WEAR AND OR GET A BELT THAT IS NOT QUITE TRUE. THE VEHICLES WERE ALL 05 & NEWER F250 OR 350 4X4 SRW WITH THE 275/70 18 TIRES. ALL THREE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN MADE BETTER BY REPLACING THE CONTINENTALS WITH MICHELIN LTX AT 2 TIRES. THEY ALL STILL HAVE IDENTICAL CHARACTERISTICS AS FOLLOWS, TENDENCY TO SHIMMY BUT SELF DAMPEN WITH THE MICHELINS FITTED. ARE SENSITIVE TO FRONT AXLE LOAD, MORE WEIGHT ON THE AXLE LESS TENDENCY TO EXHIBIT THE TENDENCY TO SHIMMY, TIRE PRESSURE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE A FACTOR CONTRARY TO FORDS CAMPAIGN 09L02. I AM CONCERNED THIS CAMPAIGN ADVOCATES OVER INFLATING TIRES WITH LIGHT LOADS AS CURE FOR A VEHICLE OR TIRE DEFECT THAT NEEDS FURTHER INVESTIGATION. HAVE MORE OF A TENDENCY TO SHIMMY AS THE TIRES WEAR. *TR

WE HAVE A 2005 FORD F350 SUPER DUTY. ON VACATION IN SEPTEMBER 2007, WE HAD 2 VALVE STEMS FAIL FROM CRACKS WHICH CAUSED FLAT TIRES. THE FIRST WAS AS THE TRUCK WAS PARKED. THE SECOND FAILED AS WE WERE ON THE INTERSTATE DOING ABOUT 60 MILES PER HOUR. WE HEARD IT BLOW AND GOT PULLED OVER WITH NO PROBLEM. WE HAD BOTH VALVE STEMS REPLACED AND DISCOVERED THAT A THIRD ONE WAS ALSO CRACKED. WE SUBSEQUENTLY REPLACED ALL FIVE VALVE STEMS WITH METAL STEMS. *TR

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD F-350 SUPERDUTY. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE RUBBER BEGAN TO SEPARATE FROM THE TIRES WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS CONSTANTLY PULLING. THE DEALER PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT ON THE VEHICLE. NO TIRE INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,000.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS IN SNOW, THE VEHICLE SLIDES SIDE TO SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. UPON INSPECTION, THE DEALERSHIP COULD NO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED HOWEVER, NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE.

I HAVE A TIRE VIBRATION ON MY 2005 FORD F-350. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 40 MPH IN SNOW, THE VEHICLE SLIDES SIDE TO SIDE WHEN 4-WHEEL DRIVE IS IN USE. THE TIRES SEEM TO BE THE WRONG SIZE FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS REGULARLY SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP.

FRONT TIRES ARE GETTING CHOPPY. HAD DEALER/SERVICE LOOK TO SEE WHAT IS THE CAUSE. STATES THAT TIRES WERE A LITTLE UNDERINFLATED.*AK