anyone see this?

[Buchholz, Steven]

... I find it a bit amusing to see this sort of thing on an Audi list ... oh
how soon we forget!  While there do appear to have been problems in
manufacturing, and most definitely the problem has been mis-handled by both
parties (hey, even that sounds familiar!) ... there are other
characteristics that really should be kept in mind as the issue is
considered ... 

1) Weren't these same tires sold to other SUV manufacturers?  Why is it that
the problem seems to be related to a specific marque?  

2) Evidence shows that Ford knew that the vehicles had a tendency to roll
over ... AAMOF, Ford's response to specify a lower inflation pressure
increases the likelihood of a tire failure.  

3) Word is now that in many cases there is evidence that the vehicles were
driven at a high rate of speed, in some cases not that much slower than the
maximum rated speed of the tire.  

4) Many people (at least here in the USA) view the SUV as a vehicle that
affords them an extra evel of safety, primarily due to the crash test
ratings.  Unfortunately, the tests do not demonstrate the fact that with
shorter wheelbases and higher centers of gravity, many SUVs require a level
of skill that not many drivers on the road here have acquired.  Perhaps
manufacturers can depend on computers to make up for this vehicle
dynamic/lack of skill issue (as Daimler-Chrysler did on the MBz SUV
offering).  In my mind, it was a matter of time before all of the "stars"
would line up and something bad like this would happen.  

While I don't remember ever owning a set of Firestone tires I do look at the
cost/performance for them and would not consider the current hoopla to be a
major issue in the consideration.  I see no need to own an SUV, but I will
continue to investigate Ford's product line even in the event of this
occurrence ... at least you can imagine that the prices for Firestone tires
may become a bit of a bargain as compared to the competition ... hmmm, that
sounds familiar too! ;-)

Steve Buchholz
San Jose, CA (USA)

> Bridgestone, however, is a Japanese company who (in my opinion) makes very

> good tires, and bought Firestone a few years ago to try to turn the
fleggling 
> company around.  Bridgestone is the parent company.  I just think
Bridgestone 
> should write off Firestone and keep thier name out of this whole mess.
That 
> would be wise anyways.  This is a PR nightmare, and Firestone's name is 
> getting dragged through the coals.  The worst part is I cringe everytime I

> hear them refer to themselves as the Bridgestone-Firestone company every
time 
> the make a press announcement.