2001 Subaru Forester Tires & Wheels Problems

IN DECEMBER, LESS THAN 3 MONTHS AFTER BUYING THE CAR USED, WHILE DRIVING I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A FLAT TIRE. I WAS ONLY A FEW HUNDRED FEET FROM A SERVICE STATION SO DROVE TO IT, BUT DRIVING THAT SHORT DISTANCE RUINED THE TIRE. I HAD JUST PUT AIR IN THE TIRES, BUT DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH ALUMINUM RIMS. OFTEN, AFTER PUTTING AIR IN THE TIRES, THEY WOULD BE FLAT BY THE TIME I GOT HOME (JUST A FEW MILES). THIS HAPPENED IN 2003. I HAVE HAD TO HAD THE RIMS TAKEN OFF, GROUND/SMOOTHED OFF, THEN RESEALED EVERY YEAR OR TWO. ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES/WHEELS IS THAT WHEN DRIVING THROUGH SNOW, THE SNOW PACKS ITSELF AROUND THE TIRES COMPLETELY FILLING THE SPACE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE BETWEEN THE TIRES AND THE WHEEL WELLS. IF I DON'T MANUALLY REMOVE THE IMPACTED SNOW, IT GETS TO THE POINT WHERE THE WHEELS CANNOT BE TURNED. BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS, THE RIMS CORRODING BREAKING THE SEAL AND THE SNOW FILLING THE WHEEL WELLS, ARE SAFETY HAZARDS.

WHEN DRIVING IN COLD TEMPERATURES TIRES LOOSE AIR. TIRES NEEDED AIR EVERY 10 MILES. THIS COULD BE CAUSED BY THE ALUMINUM RIMS BEING USED. THEY CORRODED AND LOST THEIR SEAL.*AK

SCREECHING SHOUND COMING FROM WHEELS. MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT BRIDGESTONE DUELLER 683 (P205-70-R15, DOT# UNKNOWN) ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES ARE SOFTER AND WEAR OUT QUICKLY. *TT

CONSUMER STATES THAT AFTER A SNOW STORM THE WHEELS ON THE VEHICLE WILL BECOME IMPACTED WITH SNOW CAUSING VERY SEVERE VIBRATIONS THAT COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL. *JG *JB

I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEEL BEARING REPLACED TWICE IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS ON A 2001 VEHICLE.

CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING, THE TIRE SUDDENLY BURST AND COLLAPSED AROUND THE ENTIRE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE SIDEWALL,BY THE TIME CONSUMER GOT THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL AND STOPPED THE TIRE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED, THE TIRE IS A YOKOHAMA P215/60R16/94H RADIAL TUBELESS GEOLANDAR H/T. *JB

ALL WHEELS ARE COLLECTING ICE AND MUD WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSING SEVERE VIBRATION WHEN TRAVELING 60 OR MORE MPH. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK ACCORDING TO THE CONSUMER'S OBSERVATION, THE VIBRATION WAS DUE DEFECTIVE ALLOY WHEEL, COMMON AT ALL ALLOY WHEELS. *YH

THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH ROOM ON THE QUESTIONNAIRE TO SHOW THE ENTIRE DOT NUMBER WHICH IS DOT EL YT CHB 1000. THIS TIRE FAILED AT 55 DEGREES TEMPERATURE, AT 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY. THE ODOMETER HAD ONLY 1563 MILES ON IT. I HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND THAT ALARMED ME, SO I GOT INTO THE SLOW LANE. AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE CLUNKING SOUND STOPPED. A MINUTE OR SO LATER, THE TIRE FAILED. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF NAILS OR OTHER ROAD HAZARD, BUT THE TIRE DID HAVE A LOT OF TIRE DUST INSIDE IT. I DID NOT GO IN TO WORK THAT DAY, SO I COULD REPLACE ALL MY TIRES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I REPLACED 4 TIRES WITH MICHELINS AT A COST OF $408.29, AND I INTEND TO REPLACE THE 5TH TIRE AS SOON AS COSTCO GETS A NEW SHIPMENT IN. I HAVE RETAINED ALL THE TIRES I REPLACED. I HESITATED TO TAKE THE TIRE TO FIRESTONE FOR EVALUATION, BECAUSE I DID NOT THINK THEY WOULD BE IMPARTIAL.( DOT NUMBER: ELYTCHB100 TIRE SIZE: P205/70R15 )