# Firestone tire flap?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firestone-tire-flap/54483>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 14, 2001, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firestone-tire-flap/54483 "2001-02-14T17:26:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![egkelly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/db5fbb/32.png) [@egkelly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/egkelly)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2001, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firestone-tire-flap/54483/1 "2001-02-14T17:26:48Z")

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Well, it has been months! since we heard anything about the allegedly unsafe Firestone tires. Given the tactics of the american news media, it is apparent to me that :  
-the tires were not that bad after all-it was the driver’s errors that caused most of the accidents  
-the government’s “investigation” was a poorly-run “witch hunt”  
-the ralph nader style “big lie” tactics are starting to backfire-people are seeing through this type of shoddy investigative reporting!  
so how is it that a HUGE story suddenly disaapears like that? Or have the lawyesr discovered that there isn’t much money to be extorted from firestone?  
What’s YOUR take on this mystery?

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**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2001, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/firestone-tire-flap/54483/2 "2001-02-14T17:35:56Z")

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I think as far as the community is concerned, it’s basically over.  
[http://www.herald-review.com/0/fstone0203-1.html](http://www.herald-review.com/0/fstone0203-1.html)

> [@](#):
>
> Firestone report vindicates union
> 
> Independent analysis shows tire failure had several causes
> 
> By H&R Staff and The Associated Press
> 
> NASHVILLE, Tenn. (February 3) – No single factor caused tread separation on Firestone ATX and Wilderness AT tires recalled last summer, an independent analysis released Friday shows.
> 
> Dr. Sanjay Govindjee, an associate professor of civil engineering at the University of California at Berkeley, was hired by Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. to analyze the problem after the tires were linked to 148 U.S. deaths.
> 
> Govindjee found that climate was a primary factor, but other factors included design; manufacturing differences among different Bridgestone/Firestone plants, especially the Decatur plant; and usage.
> 
> “The variable that seems to be most important is the physical load of the tire, that is the weight of the vehicle itself,” he said.

Granted, this is the expert hired by Firestone, but as far as the locals are concerned, it’s over.

> [@](#):
>
> Decatur union officials and workers said the analysis shows yet again that workers were not to blame for the tire failures.

So I think the answer to EG’s question would be “All of the above”.