1996 Ford Aerostar

I NOTICED A "PINHOLE" ON MY VIPER GT TIRES, CONTACTED THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THEM, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE NOT ON A RECALL LIST BUT WOULD REPLACE THEM FOR A "DIFFERENCE" COST. I RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND DISCOVERED THAT 1-2 YEARS EARLIER COOPER (THE MANUFACTURER) GAD A RECALL ON A SIMILAR ISSUE. THE DOT NUMBER OF THE TIRES THAT HAD ON MY VAN WERE AS FOLLOWS: 30 HY UDN2802 - THIS TIRE HAD NO NOTICABLE PINHIOLE 30 HY UDN2401 - PINHOLE WITH VISIBLE WIRE THREADS VISIBLE 30 HY UDN2402 - PINHOLE WITH VISIBLE WIRE THREADS VISIBLE 30 HY UDN3001 - PINHOLE BUT NO VISIBLE WIRES SHOWING YET. *AK

THESE 2 TIRE FAILURES OCCURRED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CIRUCUMSTANCES ON A VEHICLE THAT IS REGULARLY MAINTAINED AT THE FIRESTONE SERVICE CENTER THAT INSTALLED THE TIRES. FIRESTONE HAS DENIED CLAIM OF VEHICLE REPAIR FROM THE TIRE SEPARATION INCIDENT ON JUNE 16, 2002, SAYING THE 'TIRE WAS IMPROPERLY INFLATED FOR AN UNDETERMINED TIME PERIOD'. THEIR OWN PEOPLE INSPECTED THE TIRES 40 DAYS PRIOR, THE TIME OF THE 1ST TIRE SEPARATION, CLAIMING TIRES TO BE WORTHY, PROPERLY INFLATED ETC. WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT AN INVESTIGATION INTO THESE TIRES MUST HAPPEN, IF IT ISNT ALREADY UNDERWAY. THIS WAS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT FORTUNATELY DID NOT END TRAGICALLY, OTHER THAN DOLLARS SPENT OUT OF OUR POCKET. PLEASE TAKE SERIOUS NOTE TO OUR CIRCUMSTANCE, IT CAN NOT BE COMMON OF TIRES THAT 2 WOULD SEPARATE IN 40 DAYS ON A REGULARLY MAINTAINED VEHICLE ON A CLEAR HIGHWAY AND SPEEDS UNDER NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED LIMITS. AFTER THE FIRST TIRE FAILURE, THE SERVICE CENTER MANAGER STATED THAT THE 'TIRE HAD SEPARATED AND FAILED'. AFTER THE SECOND SEPARATION, THE SAME MANAGER HAD THE SAME STATEMENT FOR THE SECOND TIRE. THEY ULTIMATELY WERE WILLING TO REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES WITH A BRIDGESTONE PRODUCT, FOR US, THAT WAS UNACCEPTABLE, WE CHOOSE TO TAKE OUR BUSINESS ELSEWHERE (CLEARLY, NOT AN ISSUE FOR THE NHTSA). THOUGH, WHAT IS OF GREAT CONCERN TO US IS THE LACK OF URGENCY ON THE PART OF LOCAL FIRESTONE AND CORPORATE FIRESTONE THAT THERE COULD POTENTIALLY BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH A PRODUCT THEY SELL.THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME, YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE, AND YOUR CONSIDERATION.*AK

COMPONENT #1: RIGHT REAR PASSENGER TIRE....I HEARD A THUMPING NOISE AND PULLED OVER TO CHECK.I FOUND THAT THE TIRE WAS FAILING ON THE INSIDE CAUSING A VERY LARGE BUBBLING EFFECT TO OCCUR WHICH IN TURN WAS BREAKING THE INNER TIRE WIRES AND PUSHING THE TREAD OUT FROM THE BODY OF THE TIRE. WHEN I TOOK IT INTO TIRE KINGDOM, SO. US #1, FT. PIERCE, I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS CAUSE FROM UNEVEN OUTTER WEAR---NOT!---AND THAT SINCE I HAD BOIUGHT THE LOWER PRICED TIRE THAT THAT WAS ALL I COULD EXPECT. I HAD TO BUT A REPLACEMENT TIRE. THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON 4/17/2001 TO THE DRIVER FRONT TIRE. PLEASE BEAR IN MIND THAT ALL FOUR OF THE TIRES ON THIS VECHICLE WERE BOUT AT THE DAME TIME AND EXPERIENCE THE SAME WEAR. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS TYPE OF DEFECT IN THE SAME VEIN AS THE FIRESTONE FAILURES AND THAT HAD I BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY I AND ANY PASSENGER COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE INSULT TO INJURT WAS THAT "I SHOULD EXPECT THIS KIND OF FAILURE SINCE I ROUTINELY DO NOT PURCHASE ANY TIRE OTHER THAT THE LOWER MODERATE PRICED ONES. IT IS MY CONTENTION THAT NORMAL WEAR HAS TO DO W/TREAD WEAR, NOT INTERNAL FAILURE CAUSING DAMAGE.*AK