Ford Explorer Sport Rollover and Tire Tread Separation Accident: St. Petersburg Times, "Small SUVs Can Be Big Problem"

         The two-door Ford Explorer that rolled over on the Howard Frankland Bridge and sank in Tampa Bay is one of the most dangerous vehicles on the road, according to insurance industry data.
         Because of its higher center of gravity, a more narrow, trucklike foundation and relatively light weight, the two-door Explorer Sport is at much greater risk than most other vehicles, including other SUVs, analysts say. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Saturday's accident was caused when tread separated from the vehicle's left rear tire, causing the SUV to spin and roll over 1 1/2 times.
         This was far from the first time Explorers and tire failure have been linked to an accident. In May 2000, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration contacted Ford and Firestone about a high incidence of tire failure on Explorers that had Firestone tires. All the failures involved tread separation. If the vehicle was running at higher speeds, there was a high likelihood the vehicle could leave the road and roll over.