Purchased 2005 Ford Escape in April 2006, approx. 31000. km. Sept 07 noticed a rumbling sound, which gradually grew louder over the next few weeks, especially at 80kph. In Oct/07 took vehicle into local dealership, who advised, tires needed rotating. Told us noise would dissipate as the tires wore in. Did not, got worse. Rotated tires again, waited...no cure. Advised we needed a wheel alignment, waited again, still did not cure problem. . Noise so loud now, could not hold a normal conversation in the vehicle. Took vehicle to original dealership where purchased, for another problem, and was told immediately, that the noise we were getting, was from the poor Continental Contitrac tires that Ford puts on the Escapes. Upon checking on the web it appears that this is a very common problem and Ford is aware of it. However obviously our local dealer was not, or maybe he just liked getting paid for tire rotation and wheel alignments!!! Put 4 new tires (not Continentals) and the noise has completely vanished and the vehicle rolls so much better, wished we had done it a year ago.