got my Trac back from the dealer...

[Bart Adkins]

I have a 2004 4x2 XLT. I posted yesterday about cupping on my left front tire at 18,000 miles. It turned out to be a loose wheel bearing. They tightened it AND gave me a new tire. No charge.

Oh, and this is weird...a lot of site members chimed in about the crappy Goodyear tires our Tracs came with. I didn't think about it at first, but my Trac came with Michilin tires. Ford must change tire companies every couple of years or so....not too long ago Explorers came with Firestone tires.(remember the blow out stories on the news?)

 

[Gypsy me]

Bart, glad you got it fixed. I dunno, I don't have a problem with my Goodyear tires. Even in heavy rain going to Texas (100 miles in New Mexico pf heavy rain) and trac drove great.



I do get them rotated every time I get an oil change done.

 

[Dan gelb]

glad to hear you got treated right

as far as crapyears or Michelin I have an 04 2wd xlt premium and my neoghbor has the 04 xls 2wd base model we bought days apart I have crapyears he has Michelin and

we bought from same dealership

 

[Bart Adkins]

I also have different stock rims than most that I've seen. mine are a two tone directional rim instead of the straight spoke style ...weird.:wacko:

 

[Richard L]

Bart,

I agree that many people blame the Goodyear tires for the tire cupping problems when it's more often caused by bad shocks or loose/worn wheel bearings. I have had Goodyear tires on nearly every vehicle I have owned in the past 15-20 years and have always gotten good wear, and no defects. The biggest problem with the OEM Wrangler RT/S tires is their poor wet weather traction, and a bit of excessive road noise which is typical of the more agressive treads. I have had two 4X2 Sport Tracs and never have an occasion to drive off-road so I wish Ford would put "Highway" tires with better wet weather traction on all 4X2's.



...Rich

 

[Ryan Y]

bart, do you have an xls?? your rims typically come on the base model xls.... just curious.

 

[Deleted deleted]

It ain't just the Wrangler RT/S tires that have poor wet weather traction. The Goodyear RS/A's that came as OEM on my Toyota Matrix were just as bad. I changed out the fronts a week ago for Big-O Euro Tour tires, made a huge difference in ride and handling.

 

[Richard L]

Darin,

With the exception of my 1997 Grand Prix that came with Goodyear Eagles, every new vehicle I have ever purchased was equiped with the cheapest line of tires available from that manufacture and most had only fair wet weather traction at best. Even my Honda that came with Michelin's had very poor wet weather traction and poor treadwear as well.



Vehicle manufacturers buy tires that just meet the specifications of the vehcle and are choosen to fit into their cost structure for that vehicle. It's common to get tires that only have only "B" or "C" ratings for traction and temperature because that's what the tire manufacturer provides to fit the price that the vehicle manufacture will pay.



I recently priced some Goodyear tires for the Sport Trac that had their new "Triple Tread" design that had "A" Traction ratings, "B" Temperature, and excellen tread wear ratings but at $196 each, it is not a tire that Ford would fine cost effective to use as and OEM tire.



Virtually all tire makers have a range of economy, regular, and premium tires and the prices vary based on the Traction, Temperature, Tread Wear, size, and other features of the tire. Don't blame Goodyear because Ford or the other vehicle manufacturers only want to buy the cheaper economy or regular tires rather than the premiums.



...Rich

 

[Bart Adkins]

I dont have an xls. I have an xlt...and I think the directional rims look fancier...I've seen a few of the earlier models with what look to be 15" steel rims...but it was a stripped down looking model.