2006 Ford Focus Tires & Wheels Problems

I PURCHASED 2 BF GOODRICH G-FORCE SPORT COMP-2 RADIAL 205/50.R16 87Z SL TIRES ON APRIL 15, 2019 FROM AMAZON, INSTALLED ON FRONT TIRE POSITIONS ON MAY 9, 2019. REAR TIRES ARE GENERAL G-MAX AS-03 WHICH ARE THE SAME SIZE AND WERE USED THE SUMMER BEFORE WITH NO ISSUES, STILL SIGNIFICANT TREAD LIFE LEFT AND NO DAMAGE. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE INFLATED TO 36 PSI AFTER INSTALLATION. WHEN DRIVING ON ANY KIND OF MOISTURE, RAIN NIGHT BEFORE OR DRIZZLE OR POURING RAIN, FRONT TIRES DO NOT GRIP ROAD SURFACE AND HAVE ALMOST LED TO NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS AT VARYING SPEEDS ON RURAL ROADS, CITY STREETS, AND HIGHWAYS, ANYWHERE FROM 20MPH TO 75MPH. I HAVE NOW BECOME USED TO THE DANGER OF THE BF GOODRICH TIRES AND DRIVE EXTREMELY SLOWLY IN WET CONDITIONS. AS I HAVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE, I ALWAYS PUT THE NEW TIRES ON THE FRONT TO ENSURE TRACTION IN BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE BF GOODRICH TIRES HAVE ALMOST GOTTEN ME KILLED MORE THAN A HANDFUL OF TIMES. AS STATED BY ANOTHER CONSUMER, I ALSO HAD TROUBLE MOUNTING ONE OF THE BF GOODRICH TIRES TO THE WHEEL AS IT DID NOT WANT TO BEAD AND NOW THE TIRE PRESSURE IN THAT TIRE WILL FLUCTUATE, WHICH HAS LED TO DAILY PRESSURE CHECKS. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH ANY GENERAL BRAND TIRES. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I HAVE PURCHASED BF GOODRICH TIRES AND I NEVER WILL EVER AGAIN. I HAVE DRIVEN UP TO 180KPH ON THE GERMAN AUTOBAHN IN LESSER QUALITY VEHICLES WITH COOPER BRAND TIRES, AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN AS SCARED AS I HAVE BEEN DOING 70MPH IN DRIZZLE WITH BF GOODRICH TIRES. IT FEELS LIKE DRIVING ON ICE, NO HANDLING, NO CONTROL, JUST SLIDING. I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE GENERAL TIRES ON THE REAR WHICH HAVE KEPT ME FROM CRASHING, AND WILL BE PURCHASING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE(THE ONLY REASON I HAVE KEPT THE BF GOODRICH FOR THIS LONG IS BECAUSE I HOPED THEY JUST NEEDED TO BE BROKEN IN A LITTLE BUT IT HAS BEEN OVER A MONTH AND IT'S STILL SCARY).

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FOCUS EQUIPPED WITH TOYO EXTENSA A/S TIRES, SIZE: P195/60/R15 (NA). WHILE INSTALLING A BRAND NEW TIRE AND INFLATING THE TIRES (38 TO 40 PSI), THE TIRE BLEW OUT. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED FACE, LEFT ARM, EYE, AND EAR INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

I WAS COMMUTING TO WORK ON HIGHWAY 59 NORTHBOUND JUST SOUTH OF THE GESSNER EXIT AT 65 MILES PER HOUR WHEN I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION AND I NEARLY LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. MY VEHICLE IS A 2006 FORD FOCUS ZX4 WITH 15 INCH STANDARD ALLOY RIMS. THE LEFT REAR GOODYEAR EAGLE GT TIRE HAD EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. I SAW SMOKE EMERGE FROM THE WHEEL WELL AS I BROUGHT MY CAR TO A STOP ON THE EXIT RAMP AT BISSONNET. I CALLED MY HUSBAND WHO CAME OUT TO CHANGE THE TIRE AND UPON REMOVAL WE DISCOVERED THAT THE ENTIRE TREAD SECTION FROM ONE EDGE OF THE RIM TO THE OTHER HAD COMPLETELY COME OFF AND WAS STUCK IN THE WHEEL WELL, LEAVING THE RIM BARE. THERE WAS LIGHT CRACKING ON THE REST OF THE SET ON THE INNER PART OF THE TIRE NEAR THE RIM. THE TIRES WERE PURCHASED ON JUNE 17TH 2011 AT DISCOUNT TIRE AND ONLY HAD 23,000 MILES OF WEAR ON THEM. THEY HAD BEEN REGULARLY ROTATED AND INSPECTED AT DISCOUNT TIRE ON SCHEDULE. THE DOT NUMBER ON THE TIRES IS M7RB K11R 1511. I CONTACTED GOODYEAR CUSTOMER SERVICE TODAY AND THEY TOLD ME THE TIRES ARE NOT UNDER RECALL. MY WIFE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED BY THIS INCIDENT. *TR

PURCHASED FOUR TIRES IN DEC OF 2010 WITH 70 THOUSAND MILES TREAD OUT MILES FOR MY STATION WAGON . 30 THOUSAND MILES LATER, THE REAR TIRES WERE GONE. THERE WERE BALD SPOTS ALL OVER THE INSIDE DRIVERS REAR TIRE. THE CORDS WERE BEGINNING TO SHOW AFTER SIX MONTHS AND 30 THOUSAND MILES. THE OTHER REAR TIRE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS NOT ANY BETTER. ALIGNMENT WAS FINE. IT WAS CHECKED HAD ANOTHER ALIGNMENT DONE AND PURCHASED TWO NEW TIRES WITH FORTY THOUSAND MILES WHICH WERE REPLACED 8 MONTHS LATER WITH NO TREADING LEFT. FORD HAS DONE EVERYTHING EXCEPT ISSUE A RECALL. FORD DEALER PROVIDED NO REAL ASSISTANT. THEY MUST KNOW, BUT ACTED AS IF NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROVIDE. THEY INSPECTED THE REAR AND TOOK READINGS OF TREAD ETC, BUT DID NOTHING ELSE. TIRE COMPANY SAID NOT A DEFECT IN THE TIRES SO WE DON'T REPLACE TIRES FOR FREE. JUDGING FROM ALL THE OTHER POSTS THIS IS NOT A GOOD SITUATION. I WAS TOLD TO ROTATE TIRES OFTEN AND CHECK OFTEN. SOMETIMES YOU HEAR A THUMPING NOISE AND THE CAR DRIVES HEAVY IN WET CONDITIONS. *TR

WITHIN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, OUR FORD FOCUS STARTED MAKING A THUMPING NOISE WHICH WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A SLIGHT VIBRATION OF THE CAR. AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF THIS, I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER TO GET THE TIRES RE-BALANCED AND ROTATED. AFTER A ROAD TEST (I WENT ALONG), THE DEALER SAID THAT BOTH REAR TIRES WERE 'CUPPED' AND THAT REBALANCING AND ROTATING WOULD NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID THAT THE SUSPENSION WAS OK. THE TIRES HAVE ABOUT 20,000 MILES ON THEM, AND ARE THE SECOND SET ON A CAR THAT HAS JUST ABOUT 50,000 MILES ON IT. I AM CONCERNED THAT THE TIRES ARE WEARING OUT FASTER THAN EXPECTED FOR THE GOOD QUALITY TIRES THAT I PUT ON TO REPLACE THE FACTORY ORIGINALS (WHICH WORE OUT EARLY). THE THUMPING IS NOISY, BUT I AM WORRIED ABOUT LOSS OF CONTROL IF THINGS GET WORSE WHEN ON A LONG TRIP, OR IF THE TIRES FAIL DUE TO THE STRESS OF THE 'CUPPING'. FROM CHECKING THE INTERNET, OTHER FOCUS OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM (OVER A NUMBER OF MODEL YEARS), IT APPEARS THAT THERE IS SOME SORT OF DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THE REAR OF THIS CAR WHICH CAUSES EXCESSIVE AND RAPID TIRE WEAR LEADING TO THE 'CUPPING' AND RESULTANT NOISE AND (I AM GUESSING) BOUNCING ON THE ROAD. I EXPECT THAT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HOPEFULLY HAVE SOME SORT OF REPAIR THAT COULD REMEDY THE PROBLEM BEFORE THERE ARE ACCIDENTS. BUYING NEW TIRES EVERY 20,000 MILES IS NOT THE SOLUTION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 TO 60 MPH HE NOTICED THAT HE WAS LOOSING PRESSURE ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE AND THE TWO REAR TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO ADVISED HIM THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE VALVE STEMS DUE DETERIORATION. THE VALVE STEM INFORMATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 89,000.

2006 FORD FOCUS ZX3 2DR HEARD A HOLLOW NOISE COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WAS HAD SOME GRINDING CHECKED REAR WHEELS TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY SLACK IN BEARING OR WHAT...FINALLY I GOT TO WORK AND CHECKED WHEEL AGAIN THIS TIME THERE WAS SLACK CALLED THE DEALER TOLD THEM MY RIGHT REAR WHEEL WAS ABOUT TO COME OFF...DUH! THAT WAS AT 83500 MILES THE DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT OUT OF THE ORDINARY? YEAH RIGHT! I TOLD HIM THEY WERE LUCKY IT DID NOT COME OFF WHILE I WAS OUT IN NO MANS LAND NERVADA SOME PLACE DOING 70 MPH! DEALER REPLACED RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARING TO THE TUNE OF $400. *TR

I HAVE HAD 3 WHEEL STUDS BREAK OFF WHILE CHANGING TIRES FROM SUMMER TO WINTER AND BACK. TOOK TO 2 DEALERS AND CONTACTED FORD AND NONE OF THESE SOURCES WOULD HONOR 3/36 WARRANTY REGARDING MANUFACTURING DEFECTS. DEALERS STATED THAT STUDS WERE RUSTY AND THAT THEY WERE PROBABLY PUT ON TO TIGHT. THIS FALSE, AS I DO THIS MYSELF WITH A TORQUE WRENCH PER VEHICLE SPECS. THIS COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION IF I WAS CHANGING A FLAT ON SOME RURAL ROAD OR BUSY HIGHWAY AND I COULD NOT GET WHEEL OF WITHOUT BREAKING WHEEL STUDS. RUST ON THE STUDS CAUSED BY ROAD SALT AND DEBRIS THROUGH THE OPEN WHEEL NUT DESIGN IS A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY FORD. *TR

VERY LOW TIRE LIFE/TREADWEAR PREMATURE. *TR

2006 FORD FOCUS REAR TIRES . NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS WHEN TIRES START TO SHAKE AND THEN WEAR UNEVENLY ON BOTH SIDES. ONLY 26000 MILES ON TIRES FROM THE DEALER. HAVE TO REPLACE. DEALER SAYS THEIR IS NOTHING WRONG WITH CAR ITSELF, JUST POOR DRIVING. FRONT TIRES STILL HAVE CLOSE TO HALF LIFE LEFT. STILL HAVE REAR TIRES. *TR

ONE TIRE RUPTURED HOLE IN SIDEWALL RESULTING IN FLAT DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY. TOOK TIRE IN TO BE REPLACED. NONE OF OTHER TIRES REVIEWED BY TIRE CENTER. INDEPENDENT COMPANY FOUND REMAINING TIRES TO HAVE "BUBBLED" SIDEWALLS. ALL TIRES FROM SAME BATCH. TIRES ARE ONLY TWO MONTHS OLD AND TIRE CENTER WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE BATCH IS DEFECTIVE. (HOW COULD ALL FOUR TIRES GO BAD IN TWO MONTHS?) *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD FOCUS. THE VEHICLE HAS GOODYEAR EAGLE, SIZE 195/60R15. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE TIRES WERE REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE WORN. A REAR ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED FOUR TIMES PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,000. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED INFORMATION ON THE ROAD HAZARD TIRE COVERAGE, INFORMATION ON WEBSITES PERTAINING TO THE DEFECT, VEHICLE DESCRIPTION AND CONTRACT AND PICTURES OF THE DEFECT. UPDATED 09/24/07 *TR UPDATED 10/11/07 *TR

UPON TURNING RIGHT ONTO THE HIGHWAY THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND IMMEDIATELY TO THE STRAIGHTENING OF THE STEERING WHEEL. IT WAS THOUGHT TO BE HYDROPLAINING. AGAIN UPON MAKING ANOTHER RIGHT 11 MILES LATER IT REACTED THE SAME WAY. SECONDS LATER THE LEFT FRONT DRIVER TIRE FELL OFF THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DROP AND SKID LEFT OF CENTER HITTING AN ONCOMING CAR HEAD ON. A WITNESS CLAIMS TO HAVE SEEN THE TIRE LEAVE THE CAR AND CAUSE THE SLIDING TO LEFT OF CENTER. *JB