Posted by Chester Miller on September 21, 1999 at 08:59:29:
In Reply to: Re: Firestone Wilderness AT posted by Cheek on August 26, 1999 at 12:34:00:
I am currently investigating an accident in which a 3 week old 1999 Ford F150 with the wilderness AT tires. The right rear blew out and caused the pickup to loose control and roll over. The entire circumferance of the outer shoulder was detached from the tread area. A check on the air pressure in the left rear revealed 40psi. The air temperature on the date of the accident was over 100 degrees, the heat index was around 105 degrees. The pavement surface would have been near 120 or more. The maximum "cold" inflation was supposed to be only 35 psi. I suspect that the failed tire was over-inflated and due to the extreme heat, caused the air pressure to expand and caused the tire to blow out. We also heard of a case where the equipment to air up tires at a tire store, was located close to a cleaning vat and the fumes from the cleaning vat were sucked up into the tire while the tire was being aired up. While the vehicle was driving down the road, static electricity caused the fumes to ignite and blew the tire out.