Firestone steeltex A/T tread and steel cord peeled off from tire carcass causing over $2,000 damage to vehicle and momentary loss of vehicle control. This is third steeltex failure on same vehicle in less than 2 months. Remaining tire has been removed from the vehicle. Firestone refused to warranty out either tire (blown or still in service) or pay for vehicle damage.

- Frisco, TX, USA

Blow out of Firestone steeltex A/T. this is first of three steeltex tire failures on this vehicle in two month period. Each will be reported separately.

- Frisco, TX, USA

I've been a mechanic for over 7 yrs, I noticed that my Firestone steeltex A/T tires had strange wear and were noisy. I checked the alignment on my vehicle, which was in manufacturer's specs. We went on a 500ml road trip almost to my destination, when my left front tire blew out on the freeway without warning. When I saw the tire the first thing I noticed were the sideways still in tact, and the tread was gone. Before we left I did a trip check which includes checking the pressure and condition of tires.

- Scotts Valley, CA, USA

Firestone tire defect - steeltex -- last week my son and two friends was driving my Excursion at about 75 mph when the tread on the left front tire separated. This was witnessed by an on-coming driver. My vehicle ran off the road hit a culvert and flipped end-to-end. There was extensive damage to the vehicle both front top and rear. The air bags did not deploy. One passenger was life-flighted from the accident scene. Very fortunately all of the passengers were wearing seatbelts -- all were injured but none seriously -- the injuries of the passenger that was life-flighted was not as serious as initially believed.

- Montgomery, TX, USA

I was proceding North on I17 just North of new river AZ when my left rear tire exploded. At the time I was traveling 75 mph which is the speed limit on the highway. I was in traffic and it took at least a mile to slow down and get off of the freeway safely. As I use this vehicle for recreational usage I had just had the tires rotated and I checked the air pressure 20 min. Before this occured. All tires where at the proper inflation and since the tires had more than 50 percent tread I felt they where in great shape. I have since retired all of the tires by replacing them as I can't take the chance of another blow out. I was lucky I was not towing the 26' trailer I usually tow with this vehicle.

- Peoria, AZ, USA

Firestone tire blew causing an accident.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

I own a utility construction company with some 30 trucks and several trailers. I take vehicle maintenance and tire psi very seriously. On a trip from St. Charles, il. To cincinnati, oh. I noticed a vibration and pulled over twice to check it out and found nothing. At about 100 miles I had a catastrophic tire failure, the entire tread had separated and damaged the truck and the trailer I was hauling. I contacted Firestone, they sent me a claim form to which I completed and sent back with the tire. Their reply was that the tire had been run underinflated. This had never been the case. Please contact me for more info and the tire damage photos. John spira. *****dimsii IVOQ entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over to artemis*****770829

- West, IL, USA

The tire experienced tread separation, which caused damage to the vehicle.

- Davidsonville, MD, USA

While driving, consumer experienced tread separation, Firestone honored the warranty on the tire at 50 percent replacement cost because the tread depth was half used.(Firestone tires, no other tire info.)

- Ortonville, MI, USA

PE00 020, consumer was traveling about 75mph on highway and heard a noise. He was able to pull over to shoulders. Driver's rear tire tread separated from rim. Firestone, steeltex, 265/75R16.

- Tualatin, OR, USA

PE00 020; while traveling on highway about 65mph and without prior warning right passenger's side tire tread separated from wheel. Firestone, steel tex, lt 265-75R16.

- Selma, CA, USA

When applying brakes at any speed there is vibration on right front of vehicle. Vehicle taken to dealer 4 times, rotors were grounded on two visits, but did not remedy problem. Also the right front tire blew out, causing damage to rim.

- Rancho St. Margarita, CA, USA

The tread came off the tire causing me to lose control. The vehicle ran off the road into a glassy field/ditch. This occured about the 45 mile marker of I-10 w/B in la.

- Houston, TX, USA

Had a tread separation while towing a 5000lb boat. Tire pressure was 65lbs. Ambient temp = 95 degrees. Tire blew without warning at crest of 5% grade. Almost lost control of vehicle as my steering was severely impacted. Tire was the rear passenger side. Tongue weight 400 lbs. Two adults, 5 children ages 11 - 12. (tiresize: 265/75/R16)

- Gilbert, AZ, USA

Driving on 270 E outerbelt. With 3 other people in the car at 65mph, rear passenger tire smoked then went flat, I observed a separation of the tire tread from the belts of the rubber, and a melted fibers around the belts. (dot number: Vnw810379 tiresize: LT265/75R1)

- Columbus, OH, USA

Firestone, steeltex at tires, LT265/75R16, dot vnw8tx0279, load range D, original equipment on a 2000, Ford, Excursion with 25000 miles. Consumer noticed tread separation on one of the tires.

- La Plata, MD, USA

Firestone, steel tex tires, LT265/75R16, dot vnw, original equipment on a 2000, Ford, Excursion with 9600 miles on tires. While driving 30 mph right rear tire had tread separation. No accident. Tread separation caused some damage to the wheel.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

We had been traveling for about an hour in the desert in approx 100+ degree heat on I-40 about 30 miles West of needles, California. The truck starting to shake badly and then we heard a pop. We looked in the rear view mirror and saw the entire tread from the tire flying back on the road. We were unable to get the tread due to the traffic. We called the number in Ford's owner's manual for their road side service. They sent action tow out of needles, California, (760-326-4068) to change our tire. The tow driver, israel, said he had changed five Firestone tires on Excursion in the past three days! he said one of the Excursion only had 7,000 miles on it. We had three adults and three children, including a baby, in the vehicle and all were extremely upset. Luckilly my husband was able to get the car over to the shoulder and no one was hurt. We had just called Ford the week before this trip because we were concerned about the firestones on our long trip. They told us there were no problems with this tire and they weren't being recalled. We went to the Ford dealer when we got home. They told us they wouldn't cover the tires or damage to our vehicle under warranty. They referred us to Firestone. We called Firestone and they sent us a claim package. They said they won't honor any claim without shipping them the damaged tire. (dot number: Vnw81X0379 tiresize: Lt26575R16)

- Lake Forest, CA, USA

While driving and without prior warning left front tire had a blowout due to a tread separation.

- Lentner, MO, USA

While driving down road at approximately 65-70 mph driver's side front tire blewout, tearing up fender on truck. When consumer got out and looked at tire, noticed that tread had separated.

- Wallisville, TX, USA