Posted by Bart Merriam on December 31, 1996 at 13:32:21:
I have a 96 Mustang GT that I bought new with Firestone firehawk tires mounted on the stock rims.
At about 8000 miles the tire developed a slow leak due to damage I sustained by running over some object.
I do take responsibility for this damage, But as I was driving down the freeway not knowing the tire was going
the tire blew. I almost lost control of the car. It seems that when the tire lost air the tires side wall destroyed itself
until the tire burst. I contacted Firestone feeling that this problem was due to a designe flaw. But as I was explaining
the problem and my concern the tech guy hangs up on me. Is this good Business?? Any way I called them back to
talk to the manager, which so happened to be the same guy that hung up on me, to see what his problem was. He
explained to me that he thought I was done talking, I'm always end my conversations half way into my sentances don't You.
Anyway they would not replace the tire because they considered it un repairable and not a design flaw. Well you couldn't repair it,
it had no side wall left. If the tires wouldhave had more miles on them I would have replaced them all with some other brand. And as
these tires go bad I will replace them with a different brand. The main reason is this: If these tires are Z rated, 145 + MPH, and they fly
apart like they did at 65 MPH, I would hate to see what would have happened if I was going faster. I Didn't design the tire but I am an engineer
and to me the tire seemed to be defective and if I can save I persons life by voicing my opinion, And that could ber what we are talking about here,
Then that makes my time worth while
Thanks
Bart Merriam
merriam@bright.net