Explorer Replacement Tyres Do Not Prevent Roll Over

An article in the Akron Beacon Journal says that tests show that the replacement tyres chosen by Ford to replace the Firestone tyres fitted as original equipment on the Explorer SUV made it “just as likely to roll over as the original tyres.”

Explorer roll over accidents were at the heart of a bitter dispute between Ford and Bridgestone Firestone in 2000 and 2001, with millions of Firestone tyres recalled – voluntarily by Bridgestone at first, and later at the instigation of Ford.

The roll overs have led to a string of court cases and the Akron Beacon Journal article notes that Ford lost six such cases last year, costing the company $151 million.