What to do if you own recalled tires

May 23, 2001
Web posted at: 12:52 p.m. EDT (1652 GMT)

A Firestone Wilderness AT tire

Ford Motor Co. announced Tuesday that it will replace 15-, 16-, and 17-inch Wilderness AT tires on its Explorer and Expedition sport-utility vehicles and on Ranger and some F-150 pickup trucks.

The company said it will replace for customers who bring vehicles in to dealerships and reimburse customers up to $110 per 15- or 16-inch tire and up to $130 for each 17-inch tire that owners replace themselves.

Ralph Hoar, executive director of Safetyforum.com, a consulting firm that assists trial lawyers in suing automakers offers this advice if you own tires that are affected by the Ford recall:

If you are Ford owner with Wilderness AT tires:

RESOURCE From Consumer Reports: Tire Safety and Maintenance

Get your Ford dealership to replace the tires.

If the dealership can't do it right away:

Get a tire retailer to do it and save your receipt to seek reimbursement from Ford.

If you don't want to return your tires:

  •  Check the tires to ensure they aren't about to blow out, according to Consumer Reports, which has made several tire-safety tips available online. Here's what to check:

  •  Check tire pressure regularly. Drivers should make sure their pressure is kept to the car manufacturer's standards, not the tire-maker's standard.

  •  Inspect tires for damage and tread depth. When checking tire pressure, inspect the tire for cracks, bulges and other signs of damage. Also make sure the tread is at least 2/32 of an inch deep -- about the distance between the edge of a penny and the top of Lincoln's image on the penny

  •  Lighten your load -- and your lead foot. Three things heat a tire up -- low inflation, high load and high speed, and a hot tire is more prone to blow out. Make sure you aren't carrying more than your car is designed to carry, and keep your speed at or below the legal limit.

Other safety tips include making sure you have a working spare tire and keeping your wheels properly aligned.

David Champion, the director of automobile testing for Consumer Reports, said these tips aren't just for owners of Firestone tires. "Blowouts occur on all manufactures of tires," he said.