I was at my dealers on Saturday (forking out $13 for the touchup paint that FoMoCo should supply with the goddam car...) and I noticed a new 18" XR rim on display in the spares dept.

On that rim was a Bridgestone performance tyre - same size as they've always supplied with the 18's.

I asked the spares manager about the tyre and he told me that "one of the other guys at the dealership" had told him that FoMoCo are about to start rolling our new XRs with these Bridgestones on them. He said they'd dropped the Dunlops.

Is this true?

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Usually when they sell rims in the spares parts department they put whatever tyres they can get a good deal on at the local tyre joint. They usually are not the standard equipment tyre.

I was at the local Ford dealer this morning checking out my new ute (that I get to pick up on Wednesday) and it had Dunlops on it. The ute was purchased from the factory and I've had to wait 6 weeks. Not sure what is happening after the financial year though. When I ordered my ute I just made the last build until after July 1.

My new T (with 18") has the Dunlops ... pick it up wednesday

News to me.... wouldnt suprise me though.

What sort of "Perforamance Bridgestone" was fitted? Just wondering so I can keep a eye out......

It would surprise me greatly if Ford went to Bridgestone - I just can't see them ditching the Dunlops after so much R&D has gone into developing the control blade suspension around them.

News to me.... wouldnt suprise me though.

What sort of "Perforamance Bridgestone" was fitted? Just wondering so I can keep a eye out......

I'll be in there again the week after next, so will have a look then and let you know.

I'll also ask the service manager there about it.

Just went & had a look at where they fit the tyres to the rims & can tell you that there isn't a Bridgestone in sight! All Dunlops.

Usually when they sell rims in the spares parts department they put whatever tyres they can get a good deal on at the local tyre joint. They usually are not the standard equipment tyre.

That sounds like the truth of it. Those tyres were designed for the XR's so it's hard to imagine them getting the flick this early.

We're not falling over in our rides ala USA Explorer/Firestone fiasco

Scotty