FordExcursions.com Forums
Scott Coats
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• Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA |
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• Registered on 1/8/2003 |
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• 84 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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 Posted:3/31/2003 09:48 |
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I have a 2001 Excursion with the OEM Firestone Steeltex AT 265/75R16 tires. On Saturday the tread completely separated from the tire while I was traveling approximately 65 MPH. The tire dented the side of my truck and scratched up the paint pretty good. Inflation pressure was 50 PSI (I checked it last week) and I have about 34k on the tires. They still have about 40% tread left, I'd estimate.
I checked the NHSTA web site and there are a few (1 reports of this exact failure with this tire. If you have experienced a similar failure with the same tire, I encourage you to report it to NHSTA at 888-DASH-2-DOT.
My local Ford dealer told me that this tire was originally planned for the Wilderness AT recall in 2001 but that the Steeltex was pulled from the recall at the last minute. Netheir NHSTA or Firestone would comment.
Firestone has requested that I ship them the tire and upon determining that it was not a road hazard-related failure, they will pay for the damage to my truck. It seemed pretty routine to them.
Just a heads up if you have Firestone tires on your Excursion, as I'm sure most of you do..
Scott
2001 PSD Excursion, 4" Lift, 315's on 17" Weld Evo Velocity-8 chrome wheels, 315-75-17 BFG AT/KO's, SS Westin Tube Steps, 2200 watt sound system, full pillar gauges, AFE Air Raid, DiabloSport Revolution experimental custom EEC chip (120HP) tune, 4" exhaust, clear turn/head lamps, safety brake light, oversize wipers, 2003 SuperDuty turn signal/heated power towing mirrors, billet grill, limo tint, ProComp steering stabilizer and shocks, the list goes on... |
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Dave Sullivan
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• Kitchener, XX, Canada |
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• Registered on 2/27/2003 |
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• 199 posts |
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Posted:3/31/2003 11:26 |
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This is just not cool. 
Was it a front or rear tire and do you have the gas or diesel?
It sounds like a front tire since it made a mess and the pressure was 50.
On the diesel, the front is 50 and the rear is 55psi, which makes more work for rotations. I am wondering if ford has gone the route of lower pressures to help in panic lane changes again. The tires specify max 60 psi cold I wonder what the minimum is.
I am totaly unimpressed with the whole afair. The last thing I need is my tires disintegrating. Its dangerous and its expensive.
Dave.
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B Walker
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• NorCal, CA, USA |
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• Registered on 9/4/2002 |
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• 1 post |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:3/31/2003 14:05 |
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Happened to me a couple of months ago. Couldn't tell if it was separation or sidewall failure. Rupture was a "T" shape from the tread carcass towards the the bead. Tires were run at 55psi. Guess I was lucky...it didn't come apart. I was also traveling at 65mph. Tires had 50k with alot of tread left. Yes, it was the Left Rear!!!
I will report it...
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greateastern
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• Southern, MD, USA |
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• Registered on 9/21/2002 |
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• 93 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:3/31/2003 16:37 |
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Dave, just went and looked at my Steeltex's. The max cold PSI is 65, not 60. Don't know if I have the same ones you do or not, but mine are factory with about 5600 miles on them.
- Gary
Gary
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'02 X LTD, 4X4, PSD, 3.73LS. True Blue & Gold. 15K miles. Pretty much stock. (Sigh!) Upgraded load range Steeltex tires. Roof rack bars removed. Ford spare tire organizer. Way overdue on getting guages... Sunnybrook 30FKS travel trailer, 31ft, 8000lb. |
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Scott Coats
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• Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA |
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• Registered on 1/8/2003 |
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• 84 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:4/1/2003 08:52 |
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There were 16 reports on the NHSTA site, not one as my poor typing indicated.
It was the right rear tire that failed. I have always based tire inflation on tread wear and on my diesel 4x4 Excursion, 50 PSI front and rear COLD has led to the most even wear and results in about 54-56 PSI after driving at highway speeds. I routinely get 45-55,000 miles out of a set of AT tires, so I think my reasoning is sound and I've never had a tire failure of this sort. I don't think underinflation is the culprit here. I have 34,000 on these and plenty of tread left, so it's not a case of me running them bare, either.
Just FYI, Max tire inflation is 65 PSI for this particular tire and the certification label on the driver's door jamb says 50 front/55 rear.
I got two different estimates for the damage, $1750 and $1925 (the first guy missed the exhaust damage). I'm now waiting for the Firestone paperwork and I'll keep you guys updated.
If you have had a failure involving tread separation, I encourage you to report it to NHSTA, regardless of when it occured.
Scott
2001 PSD Excursion, 4" Lift, 315's on 17" Weld Evo Velocity-8 chrome wheels, 315-75-17 BFG AT/KO's, SS Westin Tube Steps, 2200 watt sound system, full pillar gauges, AFE Air Raid, DiabloSport Revolution experimental custom EEC chip (120HP) tune, 4" exhaust, clear turn/head lamps, safety brake light, oversize wipers, 2003 SuperDuty turn signal/heated power towing mirrors, billet grill, limo tint, ProComp steering stabilizer and shocks, the list goes on... |
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Dave Sullivan
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• Kitchener, XX, Canada |
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• Registered on 2/27/2003 |
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• 199 posts |
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Posted:4/1/2003 10:45 |
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Ok.. serves me right... the max inflation is 65psi. Next time I'll go look to make sure. :-)
I wonder why they dropped the tire from recall. Was it purely a cost issue or did they really think the tire is ok?
I hope firestone and ford don't wait untill "X" number of disasters happen before they decide to do do something about it.
Does anyone know of any information being provided indicating the cause of the failures?
And is there anything we can look for that would provide some precursors to failure? I am not interested in finding out on the highway.
Dave.
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E. Long
 
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• Subscriber since 1/1/2001 |
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• Atlanta, GA, USA |
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• Registered on 1/23/2001 |
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• 2,228 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:4/2/2003 07:49 |
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Hopefully there are more success stories with these tires than failure stories. I've replaced 3 of my original Steeltex's (with replacement Steeltexes) because the sidewalls were beginning to split, but I still have one original Steeltex on my Excursion with over 76,000 miles on it. It'll last through this summer, I'm sure.
-Eric
'67 Galaxie 500 - 390 FE, .030" over, FE to AOD adapter, disc brake conversion. The Daily Driver.
'00 Excursion - 7.3L PSD, LANDYOT Gen-II Radius Rods, Factory Tech Valve Body, 200K+ miles and going |
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trauski
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• indianapolis, IN, USA |
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• Registered on 3/10/2003 |
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• 44 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:4/2/2003 12:52 |
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the door jam on my 2000 x w/v10 says 38/45. im running them at 41 and the ride is softer. bought the truck used and it has uniroyal laredos on it.is that to low of a pressure to run with out towing.they are the standard 265 size. also would 285 ride smoother or ride harder since more tire to bang on the bump? |
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Jose Villarreal
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• Houston, TX, USA |
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• Registered on 4/2/2003 |
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• 9 posts |
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 Posted:4/2/2003 14:54 |
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Gentlemen,
Just FYI.
I'm also having a problem with the wonderful Firestone Tires. I called FORD national customer care center and they told me that they (the tires) would be covered under the bumper to bumper warranty. My truck has 16K miles and the tires look brand new. I don't pull or tow anything besides the kids bicycles.
FORD told me to go to the local dealer to have the truck inspected. Well the wonderful service MANAGER told me that I was out of luck, they dont warranty FIRESTONE tires. I told him what FORD told me to do and he said. Well I can see that the tires are not wearing evenly and again "WE" dont waranty FIRESTONE tires. Well this dude is aewsome he did not even bother to put the tire on the balancing machine or anything. He is so smart and he has a good eye for nothing.
Beofer this all happened. I took the tire off anf took it to Firestone and the guy there said in a non admiting way. YEAH, you have a flat spot on this tire and its going to have to be replaced. He was willing to prorate the tire and he said I needed to bring in the truck to look at the other four including spare. So I tought about it and said, why should I have to pay for something that was defective.
If there is a problem with these tires, FORD should replace them.
Sorry to rant.
I hope that if you also have problems, please post and share what you and FORD are doing about it.
Extremely upset at FORD. I can tell you this, If they don't come thru. This will be the last FORD I will ever buy.
Later Joe  |
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Scott Coats
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• Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA |
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• Registered on 1/8/2003 |
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• 84 posts |
• 1 Vehicle
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Posted:4/3/2003 09:32 |
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Joe, call Firestone. It's their tire and their warranty. Be persistent--nice but firm.
Your Ford warranty calls for 12 months/12,000 miles for the tires and they are NOT covered under your bumper-to-bumper warranty. I know, I read it in detail after my tire fiascop Saturday night.
I hate to be a spoiled sport, but this is a Firestone problem, not a Ford one. Your beef lies with Firestone. Their number is 800-356-4644 and NHSTA's number is 888-DASH2DOT. Frankly I think your best bet is to make nice with a Firestone dealer and let them do your work for you.
Me? I replaced my still-good Firestones with BFG's yesterday. I just don't trust the Firestones any more. Even if I take it on the chin for the cost of replacing the tires, the alternative is unacceptable.
Scott
2001 PSD Excursion, 4" Lift, 315's on 17" Weld Evo Velocity-8 chrome wheels, 315-75-17 BFG AT/KO's, SS Westin Tube Steps, 2200 watt sound system, full pillar gauges, AFE Air Raid, DiabloSport Revolution experimental custom EEC chip (120HP) tune, 4" exhaust, clear turn/head lamps, safety brake light, oversize wipers, 2003 SuperDuty turn signal/heated power towing mirrors, billet grill, limo tint, ProComp steering stabilizer and shocks, the list goes on... |
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