Crap Firestone Transforce tires

[Aketay]

Sometime around May, I’ll be looking for a set of HT’s to replace my Nitto Terra Grappler G2 that I’m using for towing in the snow. Normally get 60,000+ out of the Nittos in two winters. Commercial towing with the Stone’s is profitable for me, inexpensive tires that last 65,000+ miles.

 

[ACEd]

​ ​ Bridgestone recalls 10K+ Transforce tires in U.S., Canada​ Bridgestone Americas Inc. and Bridgestone Canada are voluntarily issuing a recall for for 10,380 Firestone Transforce HT and Firestone Transforce AT tires in size LT275/70R18.

 

[JimKIII]

​ ​ Bridgestone recalls 10K+ Transforce tires in U.S., Canada​ Bridgestone Americas Inc. and Bridgestone Canada are voluntarily issuing a recall for for 10,380 Firestone Transforce HT and Firestone Transforce AT tires in size LT275/70R18.

One must subscribe to 'Tire Business' in order to read the article you linked to, which I'm not going to do. I found another article close to the same date - is this the same recall in your article?

Recall Alert: Bridgestone and Firestone Tires in the USA and Canada

Bridgestone and Firestone are from the same company. In essence, they are the equivalent of a Hyundai and Kia relationship. They each have unique brand

www.motorbiscuit.com

 

[Brutal_HO]

10K tires is not a lot of trucks, must be a single lot.

P.S. story is behind a paywall, all you're going to get by clicking the link is the same info you see here and you're giving them a page hit.

 

[ACEd]

One must subscribe to 'Tire Business' in order to read the article you linked to, which I'm not going to do. I found another article close to the same date - is this the same recall in your article?

Recall Alert: Bridgestone and Firestone Tires in the USA and Canada

Bridgestone and Firestone are from the same company. In essence, they are the equivalent of a Hyundai and Kia relationship. They each have unique brand

www.motorbiscuit.com

No this is a new recall announced today - cant find details anywhere else yet - One size LT275/70R18 but both Transforce HT (standard OE tires - the retail tires are HT2) and Transforce AT (optional tires- again the retail tire is the AT2). I do not have access to entire article (i am too cheap to subscribe)

But I did see one date code 1821 = 18th week of 2021.

I thought I only attached headlines - I understand its a $ site which is unfortunate, but consider it a heads up to look for more info as it becomes available - did not realize it was a link

 

[ACEd]

10K tires is not a lot of trucks, must be a single lot.

P.S. story is behind a paywall, all you're going to get by clicking the link is the same info you see here and you're giving them a page hit.

I dont have access to full details - presumably they will be forthcoming, but it applies to Transforce HT and AT in one size only LT275/70R18. and as far as I can tell the Transforce HT and AT are unique to OE market. I did manage to see part of article which mentions Date Code 1821

 

[Sarge33Army]

One must subscribe to 'Tire Business' in order to read the article you linked to, which I'm not going to do. I found another article close to the same date - is this the same recall in your article?

Recall Alert: Bridgestone and Firestone Tires in the USA and Canada

Bridgestone and Firestone are from the same company. In essence, they are the equivalent of a Hyundai and Kia relationship. They each have unique brand

www.motorbiscuit.com

Found this at the Bridgestone site when searching for "bridgestone transforce recall"
Bridgestone Issues Voluntary Recall of Certain Firestone Transforce Tires Bridgestone is recalling 10,380 Firestone Transforce HT and Firestone Transforce AT tires in size LT275/70R18. Affected tires were manufactured between May 2, 2021 and May 8, 2021.

 

[ACEd]

• Bridgestone is recalling 10,380 Firestone Transforce HT and Firestone Transforce AT tires in size LT275/70R18.
• Affected tires were manufactured between May 2, 2021 and May 8, 2021.
• Tires included in this recall were supplied to Stellantis as original equipment for installation on 2021-2022 RAM 2500 and RAM 3500 vehicles and were sold through retailers in the replacement market in the U.S. and Canada.

Bridgestone Americas and Bridgestone Canada (Bridgestone) are collectively issuing a voluntary recall for 10,380 Firestone Transforce HT and Firestone Transforce AT tires in size LT275/70R18. Manufactured between May 2, 2021 and May 8, 2021, tires included in this recall were supplied to Stellantis as original equipment for installation on 2021-2022 RAM 2500 and RAM 3500 vehicles and were sold through retailers in the replacement market in the U.S. and Canada.

Tires included in this recall are as follows:
· Firestone Transforce HT in size LT275/70R18 with DOT Tire Identification Number VN 15 TH7 1821;
· Firestone Transforce AT in size LT275/70R18 with DOT Tire Identification Number VN 15 TR9 1821.

There are no known accidents or injuries involving tires subject to this recall. However, Bridgestone has determined that affected tires were not manufactured according to specification, and this could pose a safety risk. Bridgestone has notified regulatory agencies in the U.S. and Canada in accordance with applicable laws.

Specifically, tires included in this recall may have been manufactured with an incorrect inner liner rubber compound. This may result in increased air permeability and/or inner liner cracking. Increased permeability and/or cracking could allow air and moisture to migrate through the inner liner, into the tire’s carcass and eventually to the belt edges, which could lead to belt edge separations later in the tires’ service life. If undetected, belt edge separations could progress to belt detachments, potentially leading to loss of vehicle control and an increased risk of a crash.

Bridgestone estimates approximately 5% of all recalled tires have the affected condition. However, out of an abundance of caution, Bridgestone has extended the scope of the recall to include all potentially affected tires within the compromised DOT date code ranges.

Tires included in this recall were primarily supplied to Stellantis as original equipment for installation on 2021-2022 RAM 2500 and RAM 3500 vehicles. In addition, affected tires were sold to Bridgestone’s company-owned retail stores in the U.S., as well as authorized Bridgestone tire retailers, dealers and distributors in the U.S. and Canada.

All known customers, distributors and dealers will receive notification of the recall. Consistent with the company’s longstanding commitment to safety, customer satisfaction and service, owners may take their vehicle to a Bridgestone company-owned retail store or a Bridgestone/Firestone authorized retail location for inspection to determine if they have a tire included in this recall.

Bridgestone will replace affected tires with a comparable Bridgestone or Firestone brand tire or other suitable replacement at no charge to customers.

 

[ACEd]

May production tires more likely to be on 2021 trucks - maybe some early 2022's.

 

[aaronedmonton]

Will they give me some Nitto Ridge Grapplers instead ?

 

[JimKIII]

• Bridgestone is recalling 10,380 Firestone Transforce HT and Firestone Transforce AT tires in size LT275/70R18.
• Affected tires were manufactured between May 2, 2021 and May 8, 2021.
• Tires included in this recall were supplied to Stellantis as original equipment for installation on 2021-2022 RAM 2500 and RAM 3500 vehicles and were sold through retailers in the replacement market in the U.S. and Canada.

Bridgestone Americas and Bridgestone Canada (Bridgestone) are collectively issuing a voluntary recall for 10,380 Firestone Transforce HT and Firestone Transforce AT tires in size LT275/70R18. Manufactured between May 2, 2021 and May 8, 2021, tires included in this recall were supplied to Stellantis as original equipment for installation on 2021-2022 RAM 2500 and RAM 3500 vehicles and were sold through retailers in the replacement market in the U.S. and Canada.

Tires included in this recall are as follows:
· Firestone Transforce HT in size LT275/70R18 with DOT Tire Identification Number VN 15 TH7 1821;
· Firestone Transforce AT in size LT275/70R18 with DOT Tire Identification Number VN 15 TR9 1821.

There are no known accidents or injuries involving tires subject to this recall. However, Bridgestone has determined that affected tires were not manufactured according to specification, and this could pose a safety risk. Bridgestone has notified regulatory agencies in the U.S. and Canada in accordance with applicable laws.

Specifically, tires included in this recall may have been manufactured with an incorrect inner liner rubber compound. This may result in increased air permeability and/or inner liner cracking. Increased permeability and/or cracking could allow air and moisture to migrate through the inner liner, into the tire’s carcass and eventually to the belt edges, which could lead to belt edge separations later in the tires’ service life. If undetected, belt edge separations could progress to belt detachments, potentially leading to loss of vehicle control and an increased risk of a crash.

Bridgestone estimates approximately 5% of all recalled tires have the affected condition. However, out of an abundance of caution, Bridgestone has extended the scope of the recall to include all potentially affected tires within the compromised DOT date code ranges.

Tires included in this recall were primarily supplied to Stellantis as original equipment for installation on 2021-2022 RAM 2500 and RAM 3500 vehicles. In addition, affected tires were sold to Bridgestone’s company-owned retail stores in the U.S., as well as authorized Bridgestone tire retailers, dealers and distributors in the U.S. and Canada.

All known customers, distributors and dealers will receive notification of the recall. Consistent with the company’s longstanding commitment to safety, customer satisfaction and service, owners may take their vehicle to a Bridgestone company-owned retail store or a Bridgestone/Firestone authorized retail location for inspection to determine if they have a tire included in this recall.

Bridgestone will replace affected tires with a comparable Bridgestone or Firestone brand tire or other suitable replacement at no charge to customers.

@ACEd - do you have a link for this info? I looked on the Bridgestone site, the Tire Recall Lookup for tire identification number VN 15 TR9 1821, but could not find anything recent. I'd like to know if my new 2500 sitting at MD has the defective tires on them. Ordered with the Offroad pkg. ** [Edited: Never mind - I found the link.]

 

[JimKIII]

Will they give me some Nitto Ridge Grapplers instead ?

would be nice!

 

[ACEd]

@ACEd - do you have a link for this info? I looked on the Bridgestone site, the Tire Recall Lookup for tire identification number VN 15 TR9 1821, but could not find anything recent. I'd like to know if my new 2500 sitting at MD has the defective tires on them. Ordered with the Offroad pkg. ** [Edited: Never mind - I found the link.]

Unlikely - but definitely worth a check - recalled tires made in May - LT275/70R18 on my October Longhorn build were made in August/September and a Laramie truck same vintage as mine were even later. Most likely the recalled tires were used up on late 2021 or very early 2022. 10380 tires is under 2600 trucks and that assumes they all went to Stellantis.

Press Release Details

Press Release Details page

www.bridgestoneamericas.com

 

[ACEd]

Will they give me some Nitto Ridge Grapplers instead ?

"Firestone or Bridgestone or Equivalent."
Since there are only 10380 tires (1 week's worth of production = date code 1821) and thats from May 2021, I would assume there are plenty of Firestone replacements available.
Most likely you would be offered the Transforce HT2 in place of the Transforce HT or the Transforce AT2 in place of the Transforce AT since the HT2 and AT2 are more readily available in retail chains - the HT and AT are earlier designs and are mostly used for Original Equipment.
Best case you might talk your way into a set of Bridgestones if you prefer to Firestones. Or if your Firestone dealer also handles the Nitto, you might be able to talk your way into a credit toward purchase of the Nittos.
Worst case you have 1 1821 date code and 3 not 1821 and they are half worn - do you get 1 new tire or 4?

 

[ACEd]

"Firestone or Bridgestone or Equivalent."
Since there are only 10380 tires (1 week's worth of production = date code 1821) and thats from May 2021, I would assume there are plenty of Firestone replacements available.
Most likely you would be offered the Transforce HT2 in place of the Transforce HT or the Transforce AT2 in place of the Transforce AT since the HT2 and AT2 are more readily available in retail chains - the HT and AT are earlier designs and are mostly used for Original Equipment.
Best case you might talk your way into a set of Bridgestones if you prefer to Firestones. Or if your Firestone dealer also handles the Nitto, you might be able to talk your way into a credit toward purchase of the Nittos.
Worst case you have 1 1821 date code and 3 not 1821 and they are half worn - do you get 1 new tire or 4?

P.S. Dont forget to check your spare - same LT275/70R18 Transforce HT used for ALL spares even if you have LT285/60R20 option on ground.

 

[dm6]

Seems like all I have read on here is how awful these tires are, to the point where I almost considered replacing them from the start. For those of you who have bad experiences with them, what are you using them for? Off road? Snow? Highway? I have only driven this on the pavement and on snow once, and so far I don't have a problem with them. It quite possibly can just be that I don't know any better since this is all I have used and maybe when I replace them, I would notice a huge difference. Just curious what kind of conditions you guys are using them in.

 

[ACEd]

Seems like all I have read on here is how awful these tires are, to the point where I almost considered replacing them from the start. For those of you who have bad experiences with them, what are you using them for? Off road? Snow? Highway? I have only driven this on the pavement and on snow once, and so far I don't have a problem with them. It quite possibly can just be that I don't know any better since this is all I have used and maybe when I replace them, I would notice a huge difference. Just curious what kind of conditions you guys are using them in.

Read the Ratings at somewhere like TireRack - the Transforce HT are ranked 30th out of 47 for Highway All Season Tread and the Transforce AT2 (not the AT) are ranked 4th out of 5 for On/Off Road Commercial Traction (which is an odd category - I think they should be in On/Off Road All Terrain but they are the newer AT2 anyway - the older Transforce AT seems to be OE only and not rated there - maybe elsewhere.)

My personal gripe is with the Transforce AT I had on previous truck - for an All Terrain On/Off Road they were no good in off road muddy situation (got stuck in moderate mud and had to be pulled out) and wear - despite starting with deeper tread than the Michelins that replaced them, they wore much faster - and they did not seem to handle as well on wet or dry pavement or snow. The Michelin LTX M/S (now discontinued and replaced by Defender LTX M/S) were superior - never tested in extreme mud, but OK in moderate off road even though it was a Highway Tread.

As to the Transforce HT, the ones on my new 3500 were maybe the smoothest ride I have had in truck of that size but in most areas they are rated closer to bottom of pack and on a 4WD, they make absolutely no sense to me - switched to Cooper Discoverer AT3/XLT and like them. But if you are driving on highway full time and are ok with Highway Tread, there is nothing really wrong in my experience - I have not seen any tire failure issues like the Nexens on another thread here or the tread chunking I experienced with Continental Contitrac TRs on a F250 and on a dual tandem trailer - just no where near what you can get in other tires performance. But I do know of contractors that use them for Highway use - best name brand bang for the least bucks???

My guess is the Transforce HT were chosen for price and smooth ride quality - probably 2/3 the cost of a comparable Michelin and test drives sell trucks. Back when I bought previous 2500, I test drove a Laramie with LT275/70R18 Transforce HT and bought a Limited with LT285/60R20 Transforce AT - the 20 inch AT were significantly rougher ride than the Laramie I test drove but I blame the 20 inch more that the AT.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/surveydisplay.jsp?type=HAS&width=275%2F&ratio=70&diameter=18&tireSearch=true&filter=y

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Firestone&tireModel=Transforce+HT&partnum=77SR8THT&fromSurvey=true

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Firestone&tireModel=Transforce+AT2&partnum=77R8TAT2OWL&fromSurvey=true

 

[Jnrcarson]

I second what ACEd said. For me the decision to replace the Firestone AT’s before I even took possession of the truck was based on what in did my main uses for the truck is. I spend a lot of time in the Idaho outdoors on dirt roads in the winter. Many areas have no cell coverages so getting stuck is not an option. Just couldn’t trust the Firestone’s for that reason. Went to Nitto Ridge Grapplers which have been proven to work well for what we do. Good luck. Enjoy your new ride.

 

[werard]

Hmm all four of my tires fall under this "recall". Spare has a different date. Will be going by the local Firestone dealer to see what they have to say.

 

[ACEd]

Hmm all four of my tires fall under this "recall". Spare has a different date. Will be going by the local Firestone dealer to see what they have to say.

Do you know when your truck was built? Transforce AT or HT