FIRESTONE TRANSFORCE AT TIRES Complaints

I have a 2024 Ram 3500 with 9661miles, equipped with Firestone Transforce AT LT285/60R20 Load range E tires. These tires are date coded 3123 which make them just under 3 years old as of this report. All 4 of the tires have developed spider cracking in the valley of the first set of lugs from the outside sidewalls. It is cracked consistently all around the tire(only in this area, no other cracks exist on the tire). This cracking is consistent and present on all four of the tires. The cracks continue to open up and are to the point that I am afraid to drive the truck. I have been to both the selling dealer and 2 separate Firestone Corporate Sponsored Tire stores for inspections. Everyone seems to agree that this should not happen, but no one wants to take responsibility for the warranty to correct this concern. The selling dealer indicates that they are not responsible for the tire warranty and the Firestone Stores and a district represent have communicated to me that, even though that I purchased the truck brand new, I am not the original purchaser of the tires and therefore they are not covered under warranty. Obviously, a finger pointing exercise and choice by each manufacture to place my safety at risk. I have no choice except to purchase new tires so that I can continue to operate my truck safely. I have pictures of the concerns, and the tires will be available for inspection if requested.

DOT AH9K82 3425 LT265/70R17 121/118Q All four brand new tires on my brand new truck have bulges on the sides of the tires. The truck feels floaty and unsafe at highway speeds. The car dealership is saying it’s fine, won’t replace them, and says it’s a known issue with the tire.

LT285/60R20 with 12,700 miles. I had just left the parking lot at the Cumberland YMCA and was merging into traffic on [XXX] westbound in Cumberland Md., accelerating to the speed limit (55MPH) when I began hearing a noise. I then saw a red warning light on the dashboard indicating 0 tire pressure on the left rear tire. Looking in the outside rear view mirror I could see the tire was flat and the truck was basically riding on the rim (thus the noise). To my knowledge I did not hit any debris or potholes. I had children in the back seat. Fortunately at the low speed no one was in danger. I need to replace the tire (actually I will replace all 4 as I have no trust in Firestone) so I don't know about the availability for inspection but I will take photos. The local police were called to help ensure personal safety while the spare tire was mounted. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Two local tire shops say the sidewalls are unsafe and the vehicle should not be driven. However, Firestone verbally reassures me it is solely a cosmetic issue. They have refused to put anything in writing. Details below: Transforce ATs 275/70R18 were the "upgraded snowplow package" OEM tires for my RAM. I've never used them as such; it has solely been a highway vehicle. However, these tires have worn very irregularly, despite 3 times to the dealer and FIRESTONE shops to confirm the factory alignment is and has always been perfect. Tires always properly inflated. Frequent rotations, usually at 5K, but once at 7k miles. The sidewalls have a visible "cut" or seam all the way around the circumference of the tires. One tire the outer layer has peeled back, revealing the white material all the way around the tire. Looks like crap. This is a highway truck - it is NOT caused by hitting a curb, or by using "tire shine" like the Firestone representative suggested. My OEM tires are mismatched, two date codes 0620, one 0720, and one illegible. I recognize there was a recall on certain dates for this exact tire due to poor wear and buggered compounds. But Firestone says these don't qualify for replacement. Because the tires with the date code 0620 have BOTH sidewall delamination AND poor wear immediately above the whitewalls, I think that is pertinent. The tire with the 0720 date code is performing much better. But Firestone doesn't care. Local tire shops say they are unsafe to drive, but the nearest Firestone dealer (100 miles away) says it is just a cosmetic issue; that sidewalls peeling like shown below is common with Firestone "mold defects". Firestone Warranty says to take it to a Firestone store. The Firestone store says they don't do anything for OEM tires, and I should instead call Corporate Firestone Customer Service. Customer Service says to contact Warranty. They are driving me crazy. I want safe tires that I am confident won't blowout.

06/22/2021; Four Firestone TransForce AT2 tires put on truck by Chevrolet dealership with alignment service after installation; Tire size: LT265/70R17; DOT's: VNAHTF44220 and VNAHTF44120. Approximately, January of 2022, noticed hard pulling to the right; steering wheel vibration; road noise indicative of loose lug nuts or water frozen in tires; unusual vibration throughout vehicle intermittent but frequent. 03/21/2022 vehicle taken into same Chevrolet dealership for inspection. Dealership reports that both front tires have belt separation and is cause of problems. No other damage to vehicle, I.E., tire rims not damaged and vehicle was not in any collision or accident. Dealership replaced both tires to cost of customer. Tires retained by customer. Bridgestone has recall on other Firestone TransForce tires as of 02/04/2022 of different sizes and DOT's for belt separation.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD F-350 EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE TIRES, TIRE LINE: TRANS FORCE AT, TIRE SIZE: LT 265/75R16, AND DOT NUMBER: 8XW8TR7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEENING SERVICE FOR AN OIL CHANGE, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THE TREAD WAS SEPARATED FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE TIRE WAS NOT REPLACED AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE CONTACT CALLED FIRESTONE COMPLETE AUTO CARE, (1439 S WASHINGTON ST, GRAND FORKS, ND 58201, (701) 203-558) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO WARRANTY ON THE TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE TIRE THAT COULD LEAD TO A BLOWOUT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE OF THE VEHICLE WAS 271,374 AND TIRE WAS 42,200.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 RAM 3500 EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE TRANSFORCE AT TIRES, SIZE: 285/60/R20 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE EXPLODED INTO PIECES WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT BRIEFLY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PLACE THE SPARE TIRE ON THE VEHICLE AFTER THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED LARRY H. MILLER DODGE RAM TUCSON (4220 E 22ND ST, TUCSON, AZ 85711, 520-395-9311) AND WAS INFORMED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A FIRESTONE DEALER. WHEN THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO FIRESTONE, HE WAS INFORMED THAT SINCE HE DID NOT PURCHASE THE TIRES DIRECTLY FROM FIRESTONE, THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE APPROXIMATE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,500.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 GMC SIERRA 2500 EQUIPPED WITH ORIGINAL FIRESTONE TRANSFORCE H/T TIRES, SIZE: 245/75/R17 (NA). UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES HAD EXPERIENCED SIDEWALL BUBBLING. THE UNUSED SPARE TIRE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GRIFFIN MOTOR COMPANY (2500 WEST ROOSEVELT BLVD, MONROE, NC) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT NO FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE TIRES WERE EXAMINED AT THE FIRESTONE TIRE CENTER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE AND TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 RAM 2500 EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE TRANSFORCE AT TIRES, SIZE: 285/60/R20 (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE FILLED OVER THE REQUIRED 80 PSI MAXIMUM. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE TIRE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIRES COULD BLOW OUT AT ANY TIME. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SAN ANTONIO DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM (11910 INTERSTATE 35 FRONTAGE RD, SAN ANTONIO, TX 78233, (210) 702-2220) AND THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY INSPECTED THE TIRES AND FOUND THAT THEY WERE OVER PRESSURIZED. THE DEALER ROTATED THE TIRES. AFTER A ROAD TRIP WHERE THE VEHICLE HAULED A 7,000 LB RV, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THE TIRES IN POOR CONDITION. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO INSPECT THE TIRES UPON THE CONTACT'S RETURN. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE TIRES AND FOUND NO FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED THE CONTACT BACK TO THE DEALER. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.