armpics
New Providence,Pennsylvania
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Joined: 06/16/2006
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I was a little leery about Firestone tires because of the roll-over problem a few years back, but my local Dodge dealer convinced me that Transforce HT tires would be a great replacement tire for my truck. Today, only 3 months latter one of the tires developed three huge bubbles on the sidewall and went flat. Now Im wondering if I have made a big mistake! Has anyone else had or have a simular problem with firestone Transforce tires?
2004 Dodge DW 3500 diesel 4x4, airbags & ranchos, Arctic Fox 1140 dry bath,48" super hitch
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The Texan
Summer: A Cool Climate Winter: A Warm Climate
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Joined: 01/16/2004
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We have 8 of them, 4 on the F-350 with over 50K on them and 4 on our trailer(5er) with over 20K on them and nary a problem. They are a great tire IMHO.
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wcjeep
Tacoma, Wa
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Did you check the actual build date? I'm not talking about the purchase date.
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Rangerdave
Austin Texas
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that situation you describe tells me you might have hit something right on the crown of the tire. pretty easy one to do and ask yourself what happened.
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goodcruisin
Greenwood, IN
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The rollovers were caused by under inflation. Ford recommended 28 psi to give the "truck" a better ride. The low pressure caused the tire to overheat and blow. Unfortunately Firestone was supplying the tires and took the blame. The same thing would have happened if it were a Goodyear, Michelin, Toyo, etc.
I had a set on my Excursion. Very good tire. I only put about 5,000 miles on them before I sold it. You could have hit something or it was a defect which happens time to time with anything.
* This post was
edited 10/06/08 01:12pm by goodcruisin *
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JoeChiOhki
Keizer, Oregon
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Bridgestones are okay at best, but Firestone, and Goodyear for that matter, both have bad track records of tread seperation and belt failure. Not counting blowouts.
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parkmanaa
Houston, Tx.
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This problem can easily be caused by bead damage during mounting of the tire.
If the tubeless seal is broken due primarily to tearing the interior side of the tire near the bead, air pressure from inside the tire can infiltrate the
tire cords and cause this type of separation. The damage I am referring to is typically caused by failure to lubricate the tires and the dry tire on a dry wheel can tear the bead 'toe'; that area of the bead that causes tire to seal.
Check the tire closely when it is removed to see if there is any rubber torn in the bead area.
Not that I am a great fan of Firestone; the world tire recall leader, but it could be a mounting problem, especially since it showed up so early in the tire's life.
In any case, the tire is scrap.
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Photog101
Garden City, Michigan
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I have 6 (235/85R16) on my dually and everyone of them show where the belts overlap. Other than that, I really like these tires, especially in the bad weather.
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were outta here
fresno calif
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Hello armpics, I sell the Firestone Transforce HT to my commercal fleet accouts, which consist of a major roofing company, constraction, repo tow truck company, landscaping and many more. I have them on my ford 1 ton dualley and not a problem. All my custmors like them and get good wear and good life. They are good tire, I agree with the other folks, the bead could have gotten tore putting it on, or something hit the tire hard enough to bruise the side wall;which can cause that bubbles in the side wall. Don't let one bad tire turn you way from them they are good tire, and as to the recall this is not the same tire and do you think that after all that bad pr that firestone would work hard to make a better tire, if the tire was the problem, which it was not. once again like it was stated before it was low tire pressure and the design of the truck. Just my two cents. Have fun camping no matter what tires you buy!!!!!
Micheal D Poulsen
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stickyeye
New Jersey
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Joined: 05/22/2005
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I have the HT's on my E350 work van and the AT's on my Ram3500 dually. No problems with either and they wear great. I run the dually at 75-80 psi but do go as low as 20 psi for beach running and 0 problems.
Sticky
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