GRABBER AW P27560R17 TIRES Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD F-150. THE VEHICLE HAS GRABBER AW TIRES, SIZE P275/60 R17. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING AND THE TIRE TREAD BEGAN TO SEPARATE. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND CALLED THE POLICE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM TO PLACE THE SPARE TIRE ON THE VEHICLE. SHE FEELS THAT THE DEALER SHOULD REPLACE THE TIRE EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AS IS. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 106,000.

WHILE DRIVING MY F-350 ON I-95, THERE WAS A SUDDEN EXPLOSION AND CAUSED THE TRUCK TO SWERVE VIOLENTLY AND AS I SLOWED TO VEER INTO THE EMERGENCY LANE A LOUD HAMMERING SOUND CAME FROM UNDER TRUCK. AFTER STOPPING AND CHECKING I FOUND THE RIGHT INNER DUALLY WHEEL HAD COME APART AND OVER HALF THE TREAD WAS MISSING FROM THE TIRE. THE TREAD SEPARATION RIPPED THE PLASTIC WHEEL WELL HOUSING OUT AND RIPPED TWO 6" AND 8" TEARS IN THE BED OF THE TRUCK. THE FIBERGLASS WHEEL WELL HAD LARGE CRACKS AND THE SUPPORTS WERE TORN LOOSE. SOME ELECTRICAL WIRING WAS ALSO TORN LOOSE AND IN THE BED OF TRUCK, BEHIND THE WELL, THE METAL WAS BENT UPWARD ABOUT 4" IN A SQ. FT. AREA. THE TAIL PIPE CHROME END PIECE WAS KNOCKED OFF AND THE TAIL PIPE WAS SMASHED FLAT. I REPLACED THE TIRE WITH THE SPARE. TWO WEEKS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE WITH SLIGHTLY LESS DAMAGE. THE TRUCK HAS ONLY 18,000 MILES ON ODOMETER.

THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, BUT SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO MY SUV CAUSED BY THE TIRE TREAD SEPARATION AT 65 MPH. THIS PROBLEM IS SIMILAR TO THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT SETTLED LAST YEAR BY FORD REGARDING TIRE TRED SEPARATION ON THEIR SUV LINE. MY EXPEDITION HAD A TRED SEPARATION ON THE LEFT FRONT TIRE AT 65 MPH, WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE BUMPER, WHEEL WELL, AND RUNNING BOARD. THE TIRE WAS STILL PERFECTLY INFLATED, BUT THE ENTIRE TREAD, WHICH IS STILL HARDLY WORN, COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE, CAUSING THIS DAMAGE. I TALKED TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND THEY SAID IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY AS IT IS OUT OF THE 36,000 MILE WARANTY. THEY ARE LUCKY MY SUV DIDN T FLIP OVER AND KILL ME, LIKE MANY BEFORE ME WHO HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. THESE ARE THE ORIGINAL FACTORY TIRES THAT FORD INSTALLED ON MY NEW EXPEDITION. I FEEL THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE TIRES AND FIXING THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. I WOULD LIKE FORD TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE TO MY SUV CAUSED BY THEIR DEFECTIVE TIRE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE FORD TO REPLACE THE REMAINING TIRES SO THAT THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.

I PURCHASED 4 NEW CONTINENTAL-MADE TIRES FOR OUR 2001 GMC YUKON. THESE TIRES CARRY THE "GENERAL" BRAND NAME, MODEL P265-70R16, GRABBER AW, DOT# A3723J82301. I PURCHASED THESE TIRES WITH AN UNDERSTANDING THAT THEY ARE WARRANTED AGAINST DEFECTS AND ANY DAMAGE OCCURRING AS A RESULT WOULD BE COVERED BY THE TIRE COMPANY. I HAVE PROPERLY MAINTAINED THESE TIRES THROUGHOUT MY OWNERSHIP OF THEM. AFTER A LITTLE MORE THAN A YEAR AFTER PURCHASE, ONE OF THE TIRES UNEXPECTEDLY AND SUDDENLY BLEW UP, CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, BARELY MISSING AN EMBANKMENT AND CONCRETE BRIDGE COLUMN. UPON INSPECTION OF THE TIRE IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER, I SAW THAT THE TREAD HAD COMPLETELY RIPPED OFF THE TOP OF THE TIRE. AS A RESULT OF THIS, THE LOOSE TREAD WAS "SLAPPING" EVERY PART OF THE VEHICLE IN THE SURROUNDING AREA CAUSING OVER $4,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE, INCLUDING, BODY DAMAGE, TAILPIPE DAMAGE, ELECTRICAL WIRES CUT, A/C LINES CUT, TAIL LIGHT SEVERED, RUNNING BOARDS BROKEN AND MORE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER, I CONTACTED CONTINENTAL AND FILED A CLAIM TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS DAMAGE. AFTER A LENGTHY WAIT, I WAS INFORMED ON JANUARY 26, 2005 THAT THEY WERE DENYING MY CLAIM DUE TO A SMALL TIRE PUNCTURE. IT IS MY CONTENTION THAT A SMALL PUNCTURE SHOULD NOT CAUSE THE TIRE TO ABSOLUTELY EXPLODE THE WAY MINE DID. FURTHERMORE, CONTINENTAL CLAIMS THERE WERE OTHER DEFECTS IN THE TIRE, SUCH AS SIDEWALL DAMAGE, THAT WERE ALL CAUSED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT, AND NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. IT HAS SINCE BECOME CLEAR TO ME THAT CONTINENTAL HAS HAD THE SAME SORT OF BLOWOUTS ON SIMILAR MODELS. SEE: HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/NEWS03/CONTINENTAL.HTML I WOULD LIKE THE COMPANY TO REIMBURSE ME FOR ALL DAMAGES MADE TO MY VEHICLE AND ALSO REFUND MY MONEY FOR ALL THE TIRES SO THAT I CAN PURCHASE A SET FROM A DIFFERENT MANUFACTURER SO THAT MY FAMILY'S SAFETY ON THE ROAD CAN BE BETTER ASSURED.

DURING OUR THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY, I WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH MY FAMILY ON MY WAY FROM PHOENIX, AZ TO LAS CRUCES, NM WHEN THE RIGHT REAR GENERAL GRABBER AW P275/60R17 FACTORY INSTALLED TIRE OF MY 2002 FORD EXPEDITION EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT NOR WERE THERE ANY INJURIES. THE TIRE DID NOT DEFLATE, BUT IT DID AN ESTIMATED $2,241.47 IN DAMAGE TO MY EXPEDITION WHEN THE TREAD SEPARATED. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE TIRES WERE INFLATED AS RECOMMENDED AS INDICATED ON THE DOOR STICKER. I CHECK THE AIR IN MY TIRES PRIOR TO EACH TRIP AS THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY MATTERS MOST. THIS RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS INFLATED TO EXACTLY 33 PSI THE DAY BEFORE THE TRIP. I HAVE SUBMITTED A CLAIM TO CONTINENTAL NORTH AMERICA WHO DENY ANY WORKMANSHIP AND/OR MATERIAL FAULT. THEY ONLY WANT TO OFFER $1,000 IN GOODWILL, WHICH WILL NOT COVER THE DAMAGES CAUSED BY THE TIRE TREAD SEPARATION.*AK

THE STEERING WAS ERRATIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP, WHO INDICATED THAT 3 OUT OF THE 4 TIRES WERE DEFECTIVE, AND THE BELTS WERE SEPARATING. ALSO, INDICATED THAT THE TIRES WEREN'T COVERED UNDER ANY KIND OF WARRANTY. THERE WAS TREAD SEPARATION RECALL 02T01200 ON THIS ISSUE BUT THE CONSUMER WASN'T NOTIFIED. *AK *SC

I HAVE HAD THREE DIFFERENT TIRES EXCHANGED ON MY VEHICLE SINCE THE PURCHASE DATE OF FEB. 7 2001. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR IN EVERY 5000 MILES FOR SERVICE AND EVERYTIME I HAVE LEFT THE DEALERSHIP THE CAR PULLS IMMEDIATELY TO THE RIGHT. I HAVE GONE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP EVEYTIME AND VOICED MY COMPLAINT. AT 15000 MILES THE TIRE MANAGER EXPLAINED IT WAS MY TIRES AND HAD ME PURCHASE A SET OF 4. AT 35000 MILES THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TIRES AGAIN THIS TIME AT NO CHARGE. I AM NOW AT 64000 AND THIRD SET OF TIRES. I WAS ON THE FREEWAY GOING APPROX 55 MPH WHEN THE TRUCK BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE TREAD FELL OFF THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SIDE AND WILL BE VISITING THE DEALERSHIP ON MONDAY. I AM NOT SURE WHAT THE EXACT NUMBER OF THE TIRES IS BUT IT IS THE GRABBER TIRE. *JB

TREADS SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE, WHILE STILL INFLATED AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO REAR FENDER OF FORD EXPEDITION. PREVIOUSLY REPORTED PROBLEM UNDER CLAIM NUMBER 10024727. CONTACTED CONTINENTAL UNDER THE CLAIM AND WAS TOLD MY TIRES DID NOT FALL WITHIN THE RECALL DOT NUMBERS WHICH CONTRADICTED THE INFORMATION PROVIDED BY YOUR AGENCY. THE TIRE DEALERSHIP ALSO TOLD ME THE OTHER TIRES WERE BAD. TIRES ARE BEING SENT TO CONTINENTAL FOR INVESTIGATION.

WHILE DRIVING FROM LA TO OH WE EXPERIENCED TIRE TREAD SEPARATION ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE WHILE GOING 70 MILES AN HOUR ON THE HWY.THE TIRES ARE ORIGINAL TO THE 2001 EXPEDITION.CONTINENTAL ISSUED A RECALL ON CERTAIN P275/60R17 TIRES ON 2000 & 2001 EXPEDITIONS AND NAVIGATORS.THE RECALL WAS ISSUED DUE TO POTENTIAL TREAD DETACHMENT OR SEPARATION.WHEN I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL AT THE BEGINNING OF LAST YEAR I HAD THE TIRES CHECKED AND FOUND THEY WERE NOT PART OF THE RECALL.AFTER OUR TREAD SEPARATION AND NUMEROUS CALLS TO CONTI'S CORPORATE OFFICE IN SOUTH CAROLINA AND LAST TIME SPEAKING WITH SUPERVISOR(WHO WOULD NOT GIVE ME HIS LAST NAME) I PERSONALLY WAS TOLD THAT CONTI WOULD REPLACE THE TIRE WITH TREAD SEPARATION (PRO RATED) BUT NOT THE REMAINING TIRES ON THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY AREN'T DEFECTIVE.I TOLD HIM I DID NOT FEEL SAFE HAVING THESE TIRES ON MY VEHICLE ESPECIALLY SINCE WE HAVE 1040 MILE TRIP HOME BUT WAS TOLD "NO REPLACEMENTS". WHEN I ASKED HOW THE TIRE COULD JUST SUDDENLY HAVE TREAD SEPARATION, I WAS TOLD THAT IN THE SUMMER WHEN TIRES HEAT UP THIS CAN HAPPEN.HE TOLD ME THAT IF I STILL FELT UNSAFE WITH THEN TO TAKE THEM TO EITHER A LOCAL FORD DEALER OR TO A TIRE DEALER.WE TOOK THE TRUCK TO BOTH AND WERE TOLD THAT SORT OF SEPARATION IS RARE & UNUSUAL.THE FORD DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REACH AN AGREEMENT WITH CONTI TO BUT WAS TOLD THE BEST "DEAL" WOULD ONLY GIVE 25% OFF NEW TIRES AND NOT REPLACE THEM TOTALLY (NOT EVEN THE DEFECTIVE TIRE). THE GENERAL GRABBER AW P275/60R17'S HAVE BEEN DISCONTINUED AND ANOTHER BRAND WIL HAVE TO BE SUBSTITUTED.I THINK THAT THESE TIRES PRESENT A SAFETY HAZARD TO OTHER PEOPLE WHO MAY UNKNOWINGLY HAVE THEM THINK THEY ARE SAFE BECAUSE THEY WERE NOT PART OF THE RECALL.I FEEL THAT OTHERS NEED TO BE INFORMED OF THIS HAZARD AND OF CONTI'S UNWILLINGNESS TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION. NOW WHILE MY FAMILY AND I WERE LUCKY THAT WHEN THE SEPARATION OCCURED WE WERE ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT OTHERS MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY.*AK

I HAVE A 2001 FORD EXPEDITION THAT CAME EQUIPPED WITH GENERAL GRABBER AW TIRES, 275/60R 17 (ALL HAVE DOT # ADTO 44T 2401). THESE PARTICULAR TIRES WERE RECALLED DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION AND I TOOK THEM TO A FORD DEALER WHEN I HEARD OF THE RECALL. I WAS INFORMED THAT MY TIRES WERE NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED AND THAT THE TIRES WERE FINE. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE TIRES WERE EXPERIENCING TREAD SEPARATION AT ABOUT 45,000 MILES. AT 47,000 MILES ON THE TIRES WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS I FELT SEVERE SHAKING OF THE VEHICLE, I PULLED OFF OF THE ROAD AND INSPECTED THE TIRES. ONE OF THE TIRES (RIGHT REAR) SHOWED EXTENSIVE TREAD SEPARATION VERY NEAR TOTAL FAILURE. ONLY MY GOOD JUDGEMENT AVERTED A POSSIBLE DISASTER. I WENT TO MY FORD DEALER TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE TIRES, THEY SAID THAT THEY MAY BE ABLE TO HELP ME WITH NEW TIRES. WHEN IT CAME DOWN TO THE BOTTOM LINE THEY SAID THAT THE TIRES HAD TOO MANY MILES. I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER SET OF GENERAL TIRES EVER. I FEEL THAT BOTH FORD AND CONTINENTAL (GENERAL) AND RESPONSIBLE AND SHOULD REPLACE THESE TIRES WHICH THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE 2 YEARS AGO WHEN THE OTHERS WERE RECALLED. THEY HAVE BEEN GAMBLEING WITH THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND APPARENTLY HAVE DODGED THE BULLET THIS TIME. *AK