Michelin energy tires blowing out

[joeany]

I've blown other sidewall on my energy tire for the 3rd time this year. When I hit a pothole the sidewall just blows. Of course this is unfixable, so you need to be towed to the nearest Ford dealer. Has this been happening to others?

[vett93]

How much tire pressure (PSI) did you put on your tires?

Edited April 14, 2014 by vett93

[murphy]

How fast were you going when you hit the pot hole? I've never had a tire blow out in 50 years of driving. Flats from nail punctures but never a sidewall failure. That includes 4 years in a 2010 hybrid and 1 year in a 2013.

[inco]

If the Michelin's are not working, what did you replace them with?

[Waldo]

The Michelin tire is the same one used on all Fusions, not just the Energi, so if it were a real problem I think you'd hear about it a bit more. Is it always the same corner of the car? A bad shock can cause the tire to fall further into the pot hole, which increases the risk of damage. That's why it's also a bad idea to be on the brakes when you see an inevitable pothole hit. The faster you go, the less the tire will drop into the hole, which reduces the chance of damage. If you can't swerve, hit the gas!

 

I did have one of mine blow out, but whatever I hit also bent the rim, dented the floor and ripped off one of the underbody covers, so I'm not going to blame the tire!

[Kcouture25]

Is it happening on the same rim? If there's a defect in the rim, the tire won't seat properly and this could be a contributing factor.

[acdii]

Low profile tires are always at risk of blowing a sidewall mainly due to the fact there is less cushion between tread and rim to absorb the blow of a sharp edge. It has nothing to due with who made the tires, its just one of those things to be wary of with low profiles. Since you have the Energy, you more likely have the 17" rim, which has more sidewall than those on the 18" rim, so if you hit hard enough to blow a sidewall, imagine what damage can happen with even less sidewall on the 18" rims.

[SteveB_TX]

I am soooo glad we don't have a pot hole epidemic around here. My 19s would not survive! ;)

Edited April 14, 2014 by SteveB_TX

[acdii]

Imagine the 20's on my MKT! At least they have a hefty sidewall, have to give credit to GY on the RSA tires, very thick sidewall that sticks out past the rim to protect it from scrapes.

[hybridbear]

I think the OP is talking about the Michelin Energi Saver tires and not a Fusion Energi. There is a spelling difference.

[acdii]

Michelin Energy Saver, thats what I referred to, not the Energi model car. Only the 17" wheels have that tire. The 18's are the goodyears.

[Teddybee]

3 tires blown on my 2017 Ford Fusion energy. One distoroyed part of my car. Now it's classed as an at fault accident.

[Sky14FFH]

I hit a curb once and it caused a small bubble that the dealer said was not an issue but when they were on the front I could feel a slight pulse through the wheel.  I drove them until they were bald and replaced them with the Michellin Premier A/S around 60k and have lost 4 mpg ever since.  Got my warranty's worth out of them.