1999 Ford Ranger

FIRST OFF THERE HAS BEEN NO FAILURE AS YET. I COULDN'T GET THIS FAR WITHOUT SAYING THERE WAS. I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT ABOUT THE TIRES I HAVE IS ANY DIFFERENT THAN THE ONES BEING RECALLED? I STILL DON'T HEAR WHY THEY ARE FAILING. IF AS I SUSPECT THAT IT IS THE GLUE IS THERE A DIFFERENT GLUE USED ON 16"? I'M CURIOUS TOO ABOUT WHETHER THE TIRE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FEELING THAT THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL VERY EASILY. I'VE NOTICED IN A COUPLE OF CIRCUMSTANCES OF QUICK BRAKING TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT THAT THE VEHICLE LIKE THE CENTER OF GRAVITY IS SOMEWHERE ABOVE THE TOP OF THE CAB. THIS IS NOT IN A SITUATION WHERE THE VEHICLE IS SLIDING SIDE WAYS EITHER. IT JUST FEELS LIKE IT COULD VERY EASILY FLIP OVER. I SEE NO APPARENT FLAWS IN THE TIRES AT THIS POINT AND THEY SEEM TO BE WEARING AS WELL AS ANY OTHER TIRE ON THE MARKET. THEY JUST DON'T FEEL RIGHT AND DIDN'T PRIOR TO THE RECALL ACTION. THIS IS A FYI FROM ME TO YOU AND AT THIS POINT I HOLD LITTLE IF ANY HOPE OF THESE BEING RECALLED. WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE FOR ME? THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. *AK (TIRESIZE: P245/75R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P245/75R16 )

THE RIGHT REAR FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT (VDHL1PY508) TIRE FAILED, THERE WAS A PROTRUSION OUTWARD FROM THE INSIDE OF THE TREAD, LESS THAN 3 WEEKS LATER THE LEFT REAR TIRE FAILED IN THE SAME MANNER, CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR BOTH TIRES BUT WAS DENIED FOR THE FIRST TIRE SAYING IT WAS NOT REPLACED AT AN AUTHORIZED FIRESTONE RETAILER. NLM

ON OCTOBER 4, 2000 MY SON WAS TRAVELING AT 30 MPH ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET WHEN HIS DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE ASSEMBLY CAME OFF SPINDLE CAUSING HIM TO GO OUT OF CONTROL AND HIT A VAN AND A BOAT THAT WERE PARKED IN FRONT OF A RESIDENCE HERE IN MIDLAND, TEXAS. THE POLICE REPORT THAT WAS FILED BACKS UP THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS: WHILE TRAVELING EAST ON STANOLIND STREET AT 30 MPH, IN THE 4400 BLOCK, THE 1999 FORD RANGER'S DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WHEEL DISENGAGED FROM THE SPINDLE CAUSING IT TO PULL LEFT AND ALONG SIDE A PARKED LATE MODEL CHEVY VAN. THE RANGER HAD NO BRAKES, AND SCRAPED ALONG THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE VAN, LEAVING SCRAPE MARKS AND AXLE GREASE, AND TIRE RUBBER RESIDUE ALONG THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE VAN. THE RANGER HIT THE FENDER OF THE VAN AND SINCE DRIVER WAS TRYING TO STEER AWAY FROM THE WRECK, THIS ALLOWED THE FRONT OF THE RANGER TO PULL TO THE RIGHT BACK TOWARDS THE STREET. AT THAT POINT THE ENTIRE "WHEEL ASSEMBLY" CAME OFF AND TRAVELED 4 HOUSES AHEAD OF THE NOW 3-WHEELED RANGER. AFTER THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY EXITED, THE KNUCKLE HIT THE PAVEMENT AND FORCED THE RANGER INTO THE BOAT WHICH WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF THE VAN. THE BOAT TRAILER WHEELS WERE "CHOCKED" AND THE IMPACT OF THE RANGER LIFTED THE BOAT TRAILER INTO THE DRIVEWAY NEXT DOOR TO WHERE IT WAS PARKED. WHEN THE MIDLAND POLICE ARRIVED,WE ALL STARTED DISCOVERING THE PARTS LYING IN THE STREET WELL BEFORE THE CRASH SITE. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE HUB CAP CAME OFF FIRST AND ROLLED TO THE GRASS ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE (4' NORTH) OF THE VAN. THE AXLE DUST COVER CAME OFF NEXT AND ROLLED TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE STREET ( SOUTH), EVEN WITH THE BOAT. THE AXLE BEARING AND SEAL WERE FOUND 20' IN FRONT OF THE VAN SO THEY PROBABLY CAME OUT NEXT. THE AXLE NUT AND KEEPER WERE FOUND BESIDE THE BOAT IN THE GRASS. THE "WHEEL ASSEMBLY" REFERRED EARLIER HAS EVERYTHING STILL ATTACHED ( BRAKE LINE, BRAKE SHOE, HUB, LUGS, CALIPER, EVERYTHING!). I HAVE KEPT THESE PARTS FOR YOUR INSPECTION IN MY HOME GARAGE.. *AK