Tires started to separate after only a few hundred miles I do not have exact mileage at this time but can get an approximate tires failed in the first 1000 miles the brand is federal, :type is courargia M/T size is LT285-75R17.

- Seguin, TX, USA

Vehicle had factory original full size spare general ameri550 as with less than 400 total miles driven had tread separation, virtually all the tread came off and tire stayed inflated while driving at highway speeds. This tire had never been driven on previously and was in as new condition when I installed it just two weeks ago rim and all when I had a flat in my regular tire. After recovering the tread I found that the rubber appeared more brittle and had suffered severe wear in less than 400 miles, there were bits and pieces of rubber missing from the tread from driving on my gravel road, the other tires of different brand remain in great shape after thousands of miles. I could have lost control easily. Vehicle is a 98 F150 2wd.

- Arizona, AZ, USA

I was driving slowly through a mobile home park when my spare tire broke loose from its bracket and landed on the ground. The cable broke. No one was hurt but if it would have happened 3 minutes earlier it would have fallen off while I was at a much higher speed on the highway. I saw one complaint already and felt I should report my situation as well.

- New Hope, MN, USA

I have a 1998 Ford F150 4X4 and the cable that secures the spare tire under the bed broke while driving. I was lucky because I was only going about 5 miles an hour when the tire and the holder dropped to the road behind me. I feel if I had been going at 60 or any other speed this could have caused some major damage to any one traveling behind. I have called Ford Motor Company at their customer relations line on February 17,2010 to see if they could offer some assistance. I am more than able to install this item my self. I live on maui in a town called hana and I am about 2 1/2 hours from a dealer. I have called the dealer and the cable that broke will cost me just over $100 dollars. That may not seem to be a lot at this time but if the tire had come off I may have had to pay for a whole lot more. I have now returned to our home in California, but the vehicle is in hana. Maui I have all the pieces that were involved. Thank you for looking at this.

- Rolling Hills Estate, CA, USA

I was traveling down the freeway when I was cutoff by another car entering from an on ramp. I hit the brakes and skidded for approximately 2-3 seconds. My mastercraft courser A/T2 235/75/16 lost large chunks of rubber from the tread. I purchased these new in fall of 2008. I believe a skid for any longer period of time may have resulted in tire deflation or unraveling of the tire at 70mph. Due to the damage of my tire I could not catch the vehicle to report it to the police.

- Cadillac, MI, USA

Today was and average day. I made my way onto the highway as I've done endless times, smooth sailing for about 15 minutes or so nothing out of the ordinary and upon my travels on the highway. In less than 4 second I was shocked as my vehicle felt like it was floating oddly and shifting to the next lane in the rear end then proceeded to throw an entire section of my right rear tire out of nowhere. It is a mastercraft (aka) cooper tire known as the ct-C, which is a very hearty and (so I thought) well-made item. I had been on the highway for roughly 15minutes or so then this happened at a speed of 65mph and I was lucky to not lose total control entirely and crash. I did my best to hold control of the truck and bring it to a safe stop of the side of the highway just where and exit was. Upon visual inspection it seems to me the way the tire conveniently separated itself, with the sidewalls still on the wheel of the truck and the entire tread, bands and belts all came of and rocketed across the highway was not done by road debris. I saw this in the quick glimpse of it leaving my truck, which I caught in my rear view mirror. I'm really shaken up about this and very much concerned about my own well being and that of the people around me and those who ride with me. What should I do? this does not seem like road damage to me, if I had hit something (which upon scouring the road surface nothing was found), it would seem that my front tire would have hit something 1st. My wish is to have all 4 tires replaced (a different brand) at the cost of the manufacturer responsible. Most importantly I do not want anyone else to be potential victims of this failure, as I got very lucky! I don't want to see another series of Firestone deaths with cooper tires. I also have photos and high definition video taken to show the damages. So far I have a spare tire for now being used but I also returned to the place of purchase, which then contacted the manufacturer of the failed tire.

- Portland, CT, USA

I have had 3 tire failures due to valve stem failure. All three times we were going down the freeway and had sudden loss of air pressure. This resulted in replacing two tires on 2 vehicles and replacing stems on the remaining 6 tires. Both vehicles had new tires put on about the same time at the same dealer. (April 2007) I understand from consumer report that there is a recall on dill valve stems. I am trying to determine if these stems were part of that recall.

- Ringgold , GA, USA

I have pep boys (cooper tires) on my 1998 F-150 Ford. Futura adventure H/T P265-70R17 and with 55 thousand miles on them the radial belt has slipped on 2 of the tores and is causing a very ruff bumpy ride. The tires have plenty of tread left and should have lasted 70 thousand miles. What a shame they have not been recall for being defective. I bought the truck from a Ford dealer and they put on the new tires. I do not have a receipt. The design number is 9351 another number I took off the tire is 29122-1 and 1135.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

Purchased 4 new tires approximately June 2006 from ntb. One year later had blow-out and purchased new tire. Shortly thereafter had 3 flat tires and ntb said that the valve stems were defective and replaced. I believe that the blow-out that I had was a result of a defective valve stem, but there was no way to prove.

- Austin, TX, USA

The contact owns a 1998 Ford F-150. The vehicle has toyo open country at tires, size P235/70/R16. The contact noticed that the sidewalls of the front driver's side, front passenger side, and rear passenger side tires were cracked. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop and all four tires were replaced. The contact was concerned of the safety risk involved. The failure and current mileages were 116,000. Updated 12-01-08 updated 12/02/08.

- Mrytle Point, OR, USA

This is for defective valve stems. I purchased new tires from mavis tire Corp. In November 2006 and in June 2008 I had 1 valve stem fail. It happened while the car was parked. I brought it back and had to insist to have it replaced free of charge since it was a defective part. At that time I did not know of the problem that existed with the stems. Now I am beginning to wonder if the other 3 valve stems will fail as well. I am sure they will not replace them free of charge without a recall.

- Greenwich, CT, USA

Traveling on highway, front-end begin to shim. Shim became so hard speed was reduced to 45 mph. Loud pop followed by huge piece of trend coming off & being left on highway. Slowly pulled over thinking a blow-out & found front-left driver's side tire had top layer of trend gone, but no air lost.

- Marlow, OK, USA

1998 F150 tire blew out while driving. The consumers vehicle had minor damage when he grazed the median wall. Updated 03/08/06

- Mercer, PA, USA

While driving 35 mph driver's front tire blew out. This caused consumer to pull off the road to change the tire. The consumer stated tha the right passenger tire blew out less then a month ago.

- Renton, WA, USA

This case involves Continental tires that fail suddenly (unexpected blowouts), and destabilize the vehicle. This is the 2nd very similar failure I've had with these oem tires, they failed similarly by rupture and tread separation, with the ruptured and failed steel belts clearly visible under the separated tread. I've sent the tire to Continental, they have likely put a puncture in it that did not exist when the tire was sent to them, and claimed that this puncture had caused overheating and failure. They are attempting to cover up these defects, just as they attempted to cover up the defects in the first tire that failed. See a copy of the letter below that I sent to them recently. Please contact me [xxx] [xxx], [xxx] Continental tire North America, Inc., charlotte, nc 28273 ref: Claim #: [xxx] via certified mail: [xxx] dear [xxx], I have received your 4-9-03 letter, in which you deny my 3-28-03 claim for vehicle and tire damage due to your defective tire product.: 1.this is a notice to you not to destroy, discard, alter, or conceal in any other way my tire, dot number [xxx], which is the subject of this claim and which I sent to you on 3-28-03 via ups. This tire is the subject of the impending litigation. Please note substantial penalties for destroying or disposing of evidence in a impending legal action, once the notice has been given to you via this letter. I demand that you promptly return to me this tire [xxx], and that you identify in writing all the alterations you have already made to this tire. 2.the tire in the picture you sent to me with your 4-9-03 letter is clearly not my tire that is the subject of this claim, and that I sent to you on 3-28-03. 3.there were no punctures of any kind in the failed tire, dot number [xxx], I sent to you on 3-28-03 for this claim. The condition and appearance of this tire has been extensively documented and witnessed before it was sent to you. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Wilmer, TX, USA

While attempting to back up my vehicle(1998 Ford F-150 4 X 4 6 cyl) I thought I was hung up on something as there was a great deal of resistance in doing so. When I got out to check for obstructions in the roadway, I was horrified to see that both of my front tires were facing each other (toed in). After much ado, and many men stopping to see what my problem was, I learned that the front passenger side tie rod had let go without any warning! with only 60,000 miles on my truck, everyone told me to investigate why this happened because it should not have occurred. It is my understanding that Ford used to have a greased fitting holding the tierods and has switched to a nylon fitting that is non-greasable to save money>.... I can tell you that I was very sick to my stomach to think that my tie rod could have let go while traveling on the highway and I would have been facing the possibility of disasterous consequences. That did not give me a warm and fuzzy feeling. I bought this pick-up because I thought I was safer driving a big vehicle. Little did I know that some small little nylon part was defective and was compromising my ability to steer my vehicle. Would you please tell me how many more people have had this happen to them?? my garage tells me they have seen plenty!

- Kingfield, ME, USA

While driving at 50 mph and no warning right rear tire tread separated, consumer had to pull over. Firestone, Wilderness AT, size P235/70R16, dot#unknown. Manufacturer had been notified.

- Hanford, CA, USA

One tire became flat while awaiting for two other tires to be replaced and aligned. Mr while driving 70 mph the tread on the passenger side tire separated from the outside edge of the tire and caused it to blowout. Another tire on the front experienced a blowout on at the sidewall and one went flat while waiting for replacements which were on backorder. (Michelin cross terrain).

- Brawley, CA, USA

I currently have a 1998 Ford F150 4.2L engine that has 65000 miles and am experiencing head gasket failure. Ford moco stats there is no tsp's or recalls reguarding this. I pulled the owners notification 98B33 off your web site. My engine build date is Nov 1997 at the essex plant. I am in the army and am stationed in germany. The dealership here quoted me $2500 for the estimate. At this time they will not honor the U.S. esp purchased from the original dealer. I am currently trying to get this resolved. Ford will not give part to me at no cost to fix there defective head gaskets and lower intake manidols gaskets and engine front cover gaskets. They are giving me the run around and can't get me straight answers. I am continuing working with my dealership. I am afraid they will sit on this until my warranty runs out on the 22 January 2003.

- Apo, NY, USA

Left front tie rod broke off while the consumer was driving, causing the tire to go sideways. Contacted the dealer, and the dealer was not willing to do anything. Consumer stated that the the front end needed replacing plus tires the estimate is $983.45.

- Delivan, WI, USA