FORD: SOME CONTINENTAL TIRES MIGHT HAVE UNEVEN WEAR, VIBRATION, OR THE POSSIBLE TREAD DETACHMENT. 2008-2009 F250/F350. UPDATED 8/3/11.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2008 Ford F-350 tires problems
moderate 14 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $150 · see tires across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$150
When does it fail?
Of the 14 tires complaints filed for the 2008 Ford F-350, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 9 model years of Ford F-350 we track for tires problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 14.
No new NHTSA tires complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 12 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering tires on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of the 2008 Ford F-350 describe tread separation and sudden tire failures across multiple tire brands—Continental, BF Goodrich, Michelin, and others—happening at low mileage. The most severe incidents involve the right and left rear tires exploding or violently separating at highway speeds, causing quarter-panel and exhaust damage. One owner reported two catastrophic failures 8 months apart on the same truck (right rear at 12K miles, left rear shortly after while towing); the dealer initially called the first failure "isolated." Another owner experienced the same BF Goodrich tire model blowing twice—once in 2012 and again in 2013—with the tread completely separating from the belts. Owners also report sidewall cracking on Michelin LTX tires with less than 20K miles, and belt separation causing dangerous shimmy in the rear end. Continental tires showed tread separation signs around 20K–31K miles, with some owners noting the conditions matched a recall but fell outside that recall's DOT number range. One owner had a tire fail at 54K miles after two separate flat failures on the same vehicle. Notably, low-tire indicator lights did not activate before failures, and visual pre-failure inspections by fleet operators found no obvious defects. Repairs ranged from $2,600 to over $3,000 per failure. Manufacturers (Michelin, Continental, BF Goodrich) either denied claims, refused replacement outside warranty windows, or demanded tire return for inspection with no commitment.
Failure modes owners describe
Tread separation at highway speeds
Tread separates explosively from tire body, typically on rear wheels, causing violent vehicle pull, quarter-panel/exhaust damage, and loss of steering control. Occurs with low-tire warning inactive.
When: 12K–91K miles; earliest at 12K miles on original equipment
Symptoms owners cite: vibration felt before tire burst; tire explodes or violently pulls truck to one side; no low-tire indicator light activation; tread completely separated from tire body
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer/independent shop replaced tires and repaired quarter-panel/exhaust damage; costs reported $2,600–$3,000+ per failure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Continental replaced one failed tire at dealer; BF Goodrich initially claimed no other complaints and demanded lab inspection; dealers told owners failures were 'isolated incidents'
Sidewall and tread cracking
Fine cracks develop in sidewalls and between tread and center of tire, progressing to sudden deflation. Observed on multiple tire brands with minimal mileage.
When: Under 20K miles; as early as original equipment
Symptoms owners cite: cracks visible between tread and sidewall; tread cracks (5 cracks reported in one case); rapid deflation when cracks separate; cracking visible during routine service inspection
Repairs/costs cited: Tires replaced by owner; Michelin refused warranty claim stating tires were out of warranty despite 6-year policy and 7/32 tread remaining
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Michelin stated warranty expired and refused to act; Continental denied claims outside recall DOT number range
Belt separation and inner-belt failure
Inner belts break or separate from tire structure, causing steering shimmy and instability. Tread eventually separates from belt structure.
When: 12K–21K miles
Symptoms owners cite: dangerous shimmy in rear end of truck; vibration in steering wheel and loud vibrating noise; inner belt visible after tread separation; tread thrown completely off, belts left exposed
Repairs/costs cited: Continental refused replacement; owner stated truck was inoperable for 3 weeks awaiting tire replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Continental refused to replace citing DOT number mismatch with recall, despite matching failure modes
Repeated tire failures on same vehicle
Same truck experiences multiple tire failures (different wheels) within months or years, suggesting potential alignment, suspension, or weight distribution issue or consistent tire batch defect.
When: Multiple failures within 8 months; second vehicle had failures at 54K miles (two separate incidents at different speeds)
Symptoms owners cite: first failure on one wheel, second on opposite wheel weeks or months later; vehicle pulling to left before failure; multiple alignments performed without resolution; low-tire light inactive before each failure
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple tire replacements; tire rotation made pulling worse in one case
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford dealer told owner failures were isolated; manufacturer stated no recall applicable and tire was out of warranty
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Second failure of continental truck tires. *tr
Had tires trouble with your 2008 Ford F-350?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the tires problem on the 2008 Ford F-350?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 14 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $150 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the tires typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most tires failures cluster between 27,000 and 91,335 miles, with the median around 54,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 27,000; a quarter make it past 91,335. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $150 for tires repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to tires?
No active recalls currently cover tires issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2008/Ford/F-350.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.