firestone

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

man oh man. two friends of mine who are boyfriend and girlfriend were driving back from alaska. While halfway across the country, the firestone tire on her ford explorer blew off at 75-80mph. the wheel itself then snapped off, and the car flipped a couple of times, finally coming to rest in oncoming traffic. a big rig just barely skidded out of impact.

so he (his last name is firestone, no lie) had the ligaments in his knees pretty much ripped into stringy shreds, and is in braces and will probably have to undergo multiple surguries in the future. she was in the hospital for a few days, but is out now.

I’m still pretty shaken up by the news. really incredibly glad that things turned out as well as they did. neither of them has been incapacitated or anything.

so all of you out there, I don’t actually know you know you, but I know some of you well enough. glad to know you guys are around, and bothering to put up with my equal parts asininity and curiosity.

peace out,

jb

2

My Dad just got back from a several-hundred-mile business trip on his Firestone tires. Also, several weeks back, I was driving his Explorer for a while.

Makes me think, “WHEW!”

3

Yeah,I took one to LA a week ago, it was really hot & I went really fast but it was okay. IT’s not every one of them.

4

My grandfather used to buy ford vehicles, but he’d always make them take the firestone tires off before he’d buy it. Usually they’d put on Michelin. He wouldn’t ever go anywhere on Firestone. Now I see why…

5

My grandfather was the same way–always bought Michelins. Thankfully, we do the same.

I think I read that they had actually only recalled the tires in four states–North Carolina not being among them. This has caused a real stir. It seems that people around here would rather drive around on the defective tires until they can get them replaced by the company rather than purchasing new tires right now.

6

The father, mother, and three sisters of a co-worker of mine were on their way to Tucson over July 4th weekend. One of their tires (Firestone, as it turns out) blew out and the vehicle flipped, killing his father and one of his sisters and sending the other to intensive care. (The mother and the other sister were treated for minor injuries) It was touch-and-go for the sister in intensive care for a while, but she’s finally out of the hospital. I can’t begin to imagine what he’s gone through since the accident; although he’s been pretty strong throughout the whole ordeal.

7

I just read that those defective tires were made at a plant in Illinois during a strike. It’s sickening to know that a bunch of jerks who wanted a few bucks more an hour have caused so many deaths and so much suffering.

8

Here’s the article–I found it on the Excite news page:

Article Link

9

If the worker’s were on strike then they were not the ones making them and not responsible for the quality. The managers and the replacement workers were responsible. That the tires produced by substitutes were inferior suggests that the workers did posess skills worth paying for. It also suggests that firestone’s quality control is less than it should be.

10

This whole situation scares the bejeebers out of me on so many levels that it is not even funny.

From the Bridgestone/Firestone Corporate News site:

Bridgestone/Firestone Voluntary Tire Recall August 9, 2000

As a demonstration of our commitment to customer safety and satisfaction, Bridgestone/Firestone, after consultation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, has announced a voluntary phased recall of P235/75R15 Radial ATX and Radial ATX II tires and certain Wilderness AT tires. We believe that these tires, when properly inflated and maintained, are among the safest on the road. Most reported incidents of accidents related to these tires have involved under-inflated, improperly maintained or damaged tires, often operated in very warm climates. However, we intend to spare no effort to retain our customers’ longstanding confidence.

Which tires are affected?
This recall involves Radial ATX and ATX II tires with the designation P235/75R15.Wilderness AT tires in the same size and with an additional Department of Transportation code beginning with the letters VD are also being recalled. The designations are found on the tire sidewall; in some cases, the designation may be found on the inside of the tire, depending on how it was installed.
<snip>
Radial ATX, Radial ATX II or Wilderness tires of other sizes or with other numeric designations are not affected. These tires are most commonly used on sport utility vehicles and light trucks. Warranty and other records will be used to the extent possible to notify customers with the affected tires by mail. Ford will also provide vehicle identification numbers to locate Explorer and Mountaineer owners. We will replace the tires, whether original equipment or replacement units, even if the customer did not make the original purchase. Customers who need guidance in determining whether their tires are affected may call 1-800-465-1904.

How will the recall operate?

The recall will be phased in beginning in the states with the most reported incidents. Phase 1 includes Arizona, California, Florida and Texas. Phase 2 includes Louisiana, Nevada, Georgia, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Alabama and Tennessee. Phase 3 will extend the recall to the rest of the states, most of which have no reported incidents. Customers with a recalled tire will receive a letter from the company notifying them of the recall and the steps that need to be taken. The tires will be replaced with equivalent replacement tires at no charge. Replacements may include other Bridgestone/Firestone tires or even competitors’ equivalents if necessary to expedite the program and minimize inconvenience to customers. Customers who do not know the location of the nearest authorized service center may call 1-800-465-1904 or on the Internet visit http://www.firestonetire.com for assistance. What steps can customers take while awaiting replacement tires? Bridgestone/Firestone continues to believe that these tires are safe when properly maintained and inflated. Far fewer incidents involving these tires have been reported in northern states with more moderate temperatures. Owners of vehicles with affected tires, no matter where they are located, should follow vehicle manufacturers’ recommendations on inflation. The recommended inflation is at least 30 pounds per square inch.

For more information:1-800-465-1904 or http://www.firestonetire.com

11

I drove out to Annapolis this weekend and saw many tire treads on the road. Sometimes you see big ones from trucks but these were smaller and I had never seen so many. I wonder if they all come from those Firestone tires…

12

I wonder if these tires look like they are inflated correctly even when they aren’t? Usually when a tire is down to 20 psi it looks low, but these might not. I’m pretty sure they are perfectly safe if they are kept inflated to the correct pressure.

I always look for the ‘Maximum Inflation Pressure’ listed on any tire, then keep them at that level. Makes for a slightly rougher ride, but the tires last way longer.

13

but if they hadn’t gone on strike in the first place the company wouldn’t have been forced to use the inferior replacement workers, and none of this would have happened/would be happening.

14

This is pure unfounded speculation on your part, Jeep. Unless you have a source of information you have chosen to not share with us.

This is from the article you linked. I’d like to know how you drew your conclusion from this, the problems were caused by the replacement workers. This article specifically addresses and denies that point.

What purpose does it serve to make outrageous unsubstantiated claims such as you’ve done? Please, do not spread disinformation such as this through the Straight Dope. Remember, our motto states in part, “Fighting Ignorance.” It does not say, “Promoting Ignorance.”