Goodyears Offered For Ford SUVs

DEARBORN, Mich.--Consumers uneasy over riding with Firestone tires on their Ford Explorers can specify Goodyears for their 2001 Explorer orders.

Ford said it is instituting the program as a means for “giving consumers a choice” in regard to reactions over the Firestone recall. Sales of Explorers have dropped considerably--they were down 16 percent in October--ever since the tire controversy began to unfold.

Ford dealers are reportedly experiencing numerous situations where potential Explorer buyers do not want Firestone tires affixed to their SUVs.

A Ford analyst has noted that 5 to 10 percent of new Explorer buyers throughout the country, and up to 40 percent in Southern states where the Firestone problems have been most most common, have been asking dealers to remove the standard Firestones and replace them with other brands.

Ford had said in October that Goodyear will be supplying some tires for the 2002 Explorer and Mountaineer SUVs--which further reduces business for Firestone--previously the the sole supplier. (It also said it had decided before the Firestone recall that some of the SUV tire business would be going to Michelin.)

Also last month, Ford said customers shopping for the 2002 models will be given either Goodyears or Michelins, depending on the tire and vehicle specifications. This latest move appears to be speeding up the process.

11/15/00