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Tests: Ford Replacement Tires Still Don't Prevent Rollovers

March 3, 2006

Rollovers • Cars that Pass National Rollover Standard May Still be Deadly • Feds Delay New Roof-Crush Rule til October • Report: NHTSA Seeks More Time for Roof-Crush Rule • Senators Seek Delay in New Roof Strength Safety Rules • Senators Question Roof Strength Safety Rules • Nader Protests Feds' Roof Crush Plan • Treacherous Treads Still Taking Lives • Ford Class Action Settlement Leaves Consumers in the Dust • Feds' Roof Crush Rule Inadequate, Critics Charge • New Study: Stronger SUV Roofs Save Lives • Ford Loses $82 Million Rollover Verdict Appeal • Feds Delay Roof Strength Rule Again • Ford Settles Explorer Rollover Lawsuits • Safety Crusaders Seek Action on Roof Crush Injuries • Roof Crush Summit Highlights Safety Shortcomings • Feds Ignore Roof Crush Conference • Feds Delay New Roof Strength Rule • GM to Offer Rollover Airbags, Ford to Strengthen Roofs • Safety Groups Want Earlier Stability Control Rule --- • More about Rollovers ...

Ford Motor Co. approved replacement tires for its Explorer sport-utility vehicle that made the SUV just as likely to roll over as the original tires Ford already blamed for more than 200 deaths, according to the Detroit News.

Test results of the replacement tires were introduced as evidence last month in an Explorer trial in Mississippi and may support hundreds of pending lawsuits claiming the vehicle is unstable and could flip over during evasive driving.

Ford has lost six Explorer rollover cases totaling $151 million in jury verdicts in the past 12 months. Ford has repeatedly blamed the original Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. tires for the accidents.

Computer simulations used to test substitutes show that the Explorer tipped up on two wheels. Ford considers tipping to be an indicator of rollover risk. The tipping occurred on tires made by Goodyear, Uniroyal, Continental and other manufacturers according to the court records.

Ford spokeswoman Karen Shaughnessy told the Detroit News, "Ford performed extensive testing and analysis before approving any replacement tires. No single factor determined whether a specific tire was approved as a replacement tire."

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