Ford revises recommended Explorer tire fill rates

DETROIT (Sept. 25)—Ford Motor Co. is recommending owners of its Explorer sport-utility vehicles equipped with Firestone P235/75R15 tires keep them inflated to 30 psi. Ford is notifying owners of the change after Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. urged the car maker publicly to do so, citing the increased safety factor. Ford said it is making the change—from its earlier stance that inflation in a range from 26-30 psi was sufficient—because Bridgestone/Firestone´s statement during House hearings Sept. 21 "has caused confusion among our customers." Ford continues to remain "confident that 26 psi is a safe pressure for the Explorer." At the House hearing, Bridgestone/Firestone Executive Vice President John Lampe testified that the tire maker "believes very strongly that 30 psi provides the consumer with additional safety margin; at 30 psi the Explorer can handle higher speeds and 400 pounds greater load than at 26 psi. We know now that at 26 psi, there is a low safety margin for the Explorer as compared to other SUVs."