AKRON (June 1, 2001)—Independent tire dealers will be among those retailers authorized by Ford Motor Co. to assist in its recall of up to 13 million Firestone Wilderness AT tires on Ford Explorers, Explorer Mountaineers, Expeditions, Ranger and F-series pick-ups. Dealers not on Ford's authorized list also will be furnishing such replacements and sending customers to Ford dealerships for reimbursement.
A company spokesman told Tire Business the auto maker is negotiating with tire manufacturers to use their dealers and stores to provide vehicle owners with replacement tires and receive reimbursement from Ford.
Shortly before press time, however, Goodyear announced that owners of Ford-made vehicles can have their recalled tires replaced “free of charge” at any of its 5,000 retail outlets—meaning customers need not take their tires and sales receipts to Ford dealerships for reimbursement. Other tire makers and suppliers are thought to be negotiating similar arrangements with Ford in order to streamline the replacement process for customers.
The auto maker, in its advertising and other correspondence, has said it will reimburse Ford-vehicle owners for their actual tire replacement costs, as listed on the original sales receipt (copies are not acceptable), including mounting, balancing, valve stems, tire disposal and sales taxes—up to a maximum of $110 per tire for 15-inch and $130 for 16- and 17-inch sizes. Firestone Wilderness AT tires purchased as replacements for original equipment tires also are eligible for reimbursement, a company spokesman confirmed.
The spokesman said Ford will allow customers to file for a refund with or without presenting their take-off tires until June 30.
After that date, customers buying replacements at non Ford-authorized outlets are to bring both their takeoff tires and sales receipt to a Ford dealership to obtain reinbursement.
Because the accompanying Ford-authorized tire list is subject to change, dealers should consult their tire supplier or Ford (phone: 1-866-300-1226, e-mail: [email protected], or Net site: www.ford.com).
The accompanying list, taken from Ford's Internet Web site on May 30, 2001, contains the names of tires authorized by the company as replacements for those recalled. Ford-authorized tire outlets, including Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Mazda dealerships, are required to use only tires on the authorized list.
While Ford “strongly recommends” using tires on this list, customers purchasing replacements not on the list also will be reimbursed, the company spokesman said.
FORD-AUTHORIZED REPLACEMENTS
Authorized for replacement on all Rangers using size P215/75R15:
General Grabber AT 100S
Goodyear Wrangler RT/S 100S S2 OWL TL
Authorized for replacements on all Rangers using size P235/75R15:
Goodyear Wrangler RT/S 105S S2 OWLRPTL
Goodyear Wrangler RT/S 105S S2 OWL TL
Goodyear Wrangler HT 108XL BSL TL
Goodyear Wrangler HT 108XL OWL
Goodyear Wrangler GS-A S2 OWL
Goodyear Wrangler RT/S 108S X2 VSB
Goodyear Wrangler RT/S 105S S2 BSLRPTL
Goodyear Wrangler AT/S 108S OWL
Michelin LTX A/T 105S ORWL
Michelin LTX M/S 108S ORWL
BFGoodrich Long Trail T/A 108S ORWL
Uniroyal Laredo Nailguard SL 105S ROWL
Continental ContiTrac Radial AP XL OWL 1.25
General Grabber AT 105S OWL 1.00
General Grabber AP 105S SBL 1.25
General Grabber AP XL SBL 1.25
General Grabber AP XL OWL 1.25
Authorized for replacements on all Rangers using size P265/75R15:
Goodyear Wrangler RT/S S2 OWL TL
Goodyear Wrangler RT/S 112S S2 BSL RP TL
General Grabber AP SL OWL 1.25
Authorized for replacements on all Rangers using size P235/70R16:
Goodyear Wrangler RT/S 104S S2 OWL TL
BFGoodrich Radial Long Trail T/A 104S ORWL
Michelin LTX M/S 104S ORWL
Authorized for replacements on all Rangers using size P245/75R16:
Goodyear Wrangler RT/S 109S S2 OWL
Goodyear Wrangler RT/S 109S X2 OWL TL
B.F.Goodrich Radial Long Trail 109S ORWL
Authorized for replacements on all Explorer Mountaineers using size P235/75R15:
Goodyear Wrangler RT/S 105S S2 OWLRPTL
Goodyear Wrangler RT/S 105S S2 OWL TL
Goodyear Wrangler HT 108XL BSL TL
Goodyear Wrangler HT 108XL OWL
Goodyear Wrangler GS-A S2 OWL
Goodyear Wrangler RT/S 108S X2 VSB
Goodyear Wrangler RT/S 105S S2 BSLRPTL
Goodyear Wrangler AT/S 108S OWL
Michelin LTX M/S 108S ORWL
BFGoodrich Long Trail T/A 108S ORWL
Uniroyal Laredo Nailguard SL 105S ROWL
Continental ContiTrac Radial AP XL OWL 1.25
General Grabber AT 105S OWL 1.00
General Grabber AP 105S SBL 1.25
General Grabber AP XL SBL 1.25
General Grabber AP XL OWL 1.25
Authorized for replacements on only Explorer Mountaineers 1991 through 1994, 1998 through 2001 using size P235/75R15:
Michelin LTX A/T 105S ORWL
Authorized for replacements on all Explorer Mountaineers using size P255/70R16:
Goodyear Wrangler AP 109S S2
Goodyear Wrangler RT/S 109S S2 OWL TL
Michelin LTX M/S 109S RWL
General Ameri*660 AS 109S OWL 1.12
Authorized for replacements on only Explorer Mountaineers 1995 through 1997 using size P255/70R16:
Michelin Cross Terrain 109S ORWL
General Grabber AW 109S OWL
Authorized for replacements on all Expeditions using size P255/70R16:
Goodyear Wrangler AP
Goodyear Wrangler RT/S 109S S2 OWL TL
Michelin Cross Terrain 109S ORWL
General Grabber AW 109S OWL
General Ameri*660 AS 109S OWL 1.12
Authorized for replacements on all Expeditions using size P265/70R17:
Goodyear Wrangler RT/S 113S S2 OWL
Goodyear Wrangler RT/S 113S S2 OWL TL
BFGoodrich Radial Long Trail T/A 113S ORWL
Michelin LTX M/S 113S ORWL
Authorized for replacements on F-Series trucks and Broncos using size P235/75R15:
Goodyear Wrangler RT/S 108S X2 OWL TL
Goodyear Wrangler RT/S 108S X2 VSB
Goodyear Wrangler RT/S 108S X2 Slanted OWL
Goodyear Wrangler HT X2 BSL TL
Goodyear Wrangler HT 108XL BSL TL
Goodyear Wrangler HT X2 XNW TL
Goodyear Wrangler HT 108XL OWL
General Grabber AP XL SBL 1.25
General Grabber AP XL OWL 1.25
General Ameriway XT 108XL OWL1.00
General Ameriway XT 108XL BSW
Continental Conti Trac Radial AP 108S OWL
Continental Conti Trac Radial ST 108S OWL
BFGoodrich Long Trail T/A 108S ORWL
Authorized for replacements on 1997 F-Series pick-ups using size P235/70R16:
AT 9004 50373 BF Goodrich Radial Long
Trail T/A 104S ORWL