I'm considering a purchase of a 99 XLT 8 cyl with new Pirelli tires. In doing research on the vehicle I have been somewhat overwhelmed with all the press and websites regarding rollovers. How much of a concern is this? Do Explorers flip so easily? Was it the Firestone tires or is the Explorer overly prone to rollovers. Thanks alot for your input. I like the looks and want the SUV to tow a 19 foot boat. I just don't want to knowingly put my family at risk.

 

I dont think theres a real problem about rollovers. It mainly people that are so stupid they should not be allowed to drive. Once the press finds something like this they wont let go and exagerate as much as they can.

 

This is a hot spot for me. The reason that the explorer's rolled over is because you have people that think an explorer is a honda civic and is going to handle and respond just like a vette. These are the same exact people who don't give a rats behind what condition their car is in. All they know is how to stick the key in and turn it. They expect the car to stay upright when they yank the wheel around at hwy speeds.

Why do you think all those tires had the tread seperation and others didn't, because the idiots who don't want to take a few minutes out of their lives and check the tire pressure. They let it get down below 25psi and drove in 100 degree weather and drive 75, 80, or even 90 mph. my dad has a 93 explorer, which is now my car. It had the recalled tires on it when it was new, He wore them out and baught a differnt brand because they did not have the fire stones in stock and the current one were on sale and had the same mileage as the firestones. He kept the tires inflated and had no problems with them.

As long as you respect the car and know what you are driving and how it handles in emergencies and in daily driving you will love the car and it will last you a long time.

Chris

 

I'll add my 2 cents, but please do not make any decisions based on MY opinion. Many of the dealers and tire manufacturers under-inflated the tire pressure on the explorers. This was done in order to provide a 'smoother' ride. Under-inflated tires under high temperatures and high speeds have a better tendancy to come apart thus resulting in rollovers. I have 3 Explorers, and drive them fairly hard and have not experienced any tire or potential rollover situations. I keep the tires inflated at the recommended psi.

Needless to say, do your own due dilegence...

 

Let me add my two cents worth. Firestone did in fact build a bunch of crappy tires. They always have had problems with quality for as long as I can remember. The Firestone tires that came on my 93 Explorer were all replaced because of tread separation....not because of under inflation either. The next set was replaced because of recall and two of those were showing signs of separation when they were replaced. The E-350 van I drive uses LT235 85 r16 tires. Of the set of 5 two have developed separation problems while running and the spare (used) blew out while inside the van on the carrier. I think Ford built a good product and some of the drivers failed to realize its limitations. It isn't a sports car. Firestone built a lousy product and tried to blame it on Ford! I've got two explorers. I don't have any more firestone tires!

 

I agree with the other posts. I stand behind my Explorer as a safe vehicle. Like anything else, when it's used and maintained correctly, you don't have a problem.

The reason you have read so much is becuase liberals run the media and liberals hate SUVs (in general atleast). They think they pollute the environment and create class envy. Thus they use unfortunate circumstances like the firestone tire recall to push their agenda in hopes of turning us against them.

Good luck with your decision.

 

ok, i'll put my 2 cents in, less inflation of course, I ony just discovered this site a few weeks ago and am fascinated by peoples questions and the answers from all the so called experts. but this time everyone is bang on..I have a 96 5.0 xlt, that came with noisy chunky goodyear AT size 235/75/15, a load rating of 2028 or so, and aplacard on the truck that said 26psi cold. let me say I never liked them, didnt appreciate the noise, or sliding arond in the rain. these werent recalled, but i did my own recall, after weeks of research. I'm retired now so I have the time to fool around with stuff as I please. Let me say right now i really like this truck, and am convinced people drive it improperly and that adds to the problem. I was also interested in Fords insistence on replacing anything yo take off it with more All=Terrain tires...what bunk...some kind of sweetheart deal with certain tire mfgs I'd say. Well I replaced them with Yokohama Avid ST's, which is relatively new, a Performance All Season tire, just a hair lower and a 1/2 inch wider, if that, size 245/70/15, same load rating, much higher wear and heat dissipation rating( like I ever paid attention to it before) and ordered them from Tire Rack.. on the web, which is some thing else I neer did before...I had to tell them I was putting them on a Chevy S10 or they wouldnt sell them to me. Local dealers didnt care what the went on ( the size was ok, and I just got blank looks when I asked them why Ford insisted on A/T tires wen 95% of my driving is on road. After I got them, no problem to ave them mounted and balanced locally, the low price from Tirerack more than made up the costWhat adifference...Holy Smokes!!!different truck, smooth riding, no noise, drives thru rain like it wasnt there...felt more stable...but thats just seat of the pants stuff. Then the ultimate joke, I started asking aroung what the correct psi was..oh boy...local tire shop said around 33, mainly cause thats what they inflate everything to, Yokohama Tire actually hemmed and hawed when I told them its an Explorer, and sort of said go by the placard, but "ford has had trouble with that"...no kidding...26psi cold turns into much less after a few months, and add hiway speeds and a load, and awaaaay you go. So I drive at 31 psi, happy as a clam, and when I go over the road on a big trip, I inflate them to 33.
All this is to say to you, I tow a boat too, its been six months, many thousands of miles later, and I'd buy Another Explorer, as long as I get to choose the rubber...

 

Thank you all very much for your informative replies. I did a lot of other research, also.

I purchased my first Ford Explorer over the weekend. I think it was a good deal: 1999 Ford Explorer XLT, 13K miles, New Pirelli tires, V8, loaded and in excellent condition for $16,800.

 

well good luck with it my man, may i may one further suggestion...I just installed monroe reflex shocks on my 96, and i couldnt be happier smooth yet firm ride, and noticeably less body roll. Rancho make a nice street cruiser set too. You probably have no bucks left, but i wish I had replaced my tires and shocks a few years ago...I now feel like I'm driving a much more stable safer truck......and its smoooooth too.

 

Sweet! Good luck with your new X

 

As far as rollovers go, i own a '97 Sport 4x4 and I do not understand how anyone with half a brain could get one of these things to rollover. I am quite a performance oriented driver ans I have never once felt like my truck was even getting light on the inside let alone gong to rollover.

Now, as for the Firestone tires. I happen to be good friends with a Firestone store manager. Here is the explaination I got from him. Ford wanted to save some money (imagine that) and decided to have Firestone change the design of the OEM Wilderness A/T tires. In a noremal steel belted tire there is a nylon hoop at the edge of the steel belt to prevent the belt from "eating" through the rubber when the tire is underinflated. These hoops cost approx $1 per tire. Do the math and you'll find that is alot of money. But as we found out it compromised safety. Firestone has documents where they warned Ford of this and recommended that if Ford went through with the design change that the tire be inflated to no less than 32PSI. Well anyone can look at their door palcard and still see the 28PSI rating. Underinflated from the factory with no nylon hoops meant it was only a matter of time before this became a problem. By the time I bought my truck the OEM tires had been replaced with another set of Wilderness A/T's. I have put 50,000 plus miles on them and don't anticipate replacing them anytime soon. Tires are like anything else on a vahicle, they only last as long as you take care of them. Watch your tire pressure, look for wear irregularities, keep your alignment adjusted and it will make all the diference in the world.

Thanks for listening, I will get off my soap box now...

 

it aint a soapbox, it just proves that people who invest tens of thousands of dollars in piece of equipment/machinery to which they entrust their lives and and their family's lives are usually ignorant beyond putting the key in...clearly people who use a site like this are one step up...yeah they ask dumb questions, including me, but at least they inquire, and i guess act on it..has nothing to do with being a wrench head, or shade tree mechanic, or race car driver...check out sites where people ask about stereo equipment, home appliances, or even health sites. corporate america profits from our dumbness, but strangely enough, also profits when we learn...my aftermarket tires and shocks are a classic example. heaven protect us from the beancounters...

 

 

I was in a rollover last month, I was sideswiped in my 91ex by an 87 olds 88. She hit me so hard that the rear axle was tore loose from the frame on the pass side. When everything stopped I was on my roof and crawled out through the rear window. I was unhurt not even a scratch and didnt need to change underwear. I have enough faith in these vehicles that I bought another 91. Mine was a freak hit and had nothing to do with the vehicle, oh the olds was totaled too.
Quig

 

Quig757... glad to hear that you decided to get another Explorer.... I remember reading about your accident a little while ago... again glad to hear that you were ok.
As for the rollover 'problems' I agree with everyone else... lack of maintenance and knowledge lead to the problems that we hear about. I myself was involved in an accident a few years ago. If it wasn't for the stength and durability of the Explorer, the car would have been totaled and I would have been in the hospital.
The media loves to zero in on anything that woudl cause controversy... and harp on it to no end.