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Does anyone remember what month and year the Firestone 500 steel belted radial tires were recalled? It may have been late '74 but most likely early '75. I am looking for some documentation that identifies what month these were recalled. Thanks.
Garry
I did a google search and found that the recall happened in 1978. Here's the genesis of my question. I just purchased a one owner '75 convertible that I believe has the original spare tire. The owner didn't recall ever having had it out of the tub but does remember someone telling her that these were after the recall. Unfortunately she recently threw the old tires away because they were dryrot and had new Bridgestone's put on.
With some difficulty I was able to remove it yesterday and here is what I found. It says Firestone Steel Belted Radial in white letters and it still has the tire sticker on the tread and the original wheel. There is no 500 designation on it. I wonder if due to the complaints that they discontinued using the 500 in normal production well before the actual recall?
What do I have and does anyone else have the same? The car was assemble in very early March of 1975 and has 51K original miles. All components are correct and the smog equipment and exhaust with catalytic converter are all there.
Garry
Garry,
Look at the last 3 numbers of the debossed code on the sidewall. That will be the week and year of manufacture. i.e. 171 = 17th week of 1971. Seems to me that an original St. Louis tire would not have the tire sticker on the tread.
I vividly recall those tires. I bought a full set of five for my wife's car. Over time I went to Firestone with various problems and they adjusted tires 15 times. When the recall was announced we again had problems with tires, went to the Firestone dealer who said our tires did not qualify for the recall. After a HEATED exchange I bought a full set of new Goodyear tires (from a Goodyear dealer). I know the recall was some time before August 77 because I sold that car about then.
The only Firestone tire I have had since then was on a trailer I bought and it blew out.
Garry,
I'd say the tire was manufactured the 19th week of 1979 or 1989. Type of tire will determine if it is 1979 or 1989. That comes from the 199 (last 3 debossed numbers). The other letters and numbers have to do with the plant of manufacture etc.
Garry
The tire you have is a replacement as a 75 should have 500 on the sidewall.
I have bought a few 73 original cars from the original owner that came with Firestone 500's. The story is always the same blowouts from the start and Firestone replacing tires for years. I heard just a few years ago thease tires can still be turned in on a recall but I doubt it. The Firestone Steel Belted Radial is a tire that came out after the 500. I have a friend who has bought up at least 100 Firestone 500's over the last 15 years but they are getting hard to find and only good for show.
From additional googling I find that the TPC was introduced in December of 1975 quite possibly as part of the switch over from the 500. Unfortunatley, it doesn't appear as though this tire was the one that left the factory with the car.
mrs clems new 74 454 caprice had those tires and every one seperated,they did not blow out. they would have a problem where the tread surface would seperate internally and cause a bad shake in the car. she had gotten all the tires replaced one at a time before the recall and we had already gotten a new car by the time of the recall. i understand the problem was caused by the fact firestone was trying to build radial tires on bias ply tire equiptment.
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