That's an interesting way to make a point (though it isn't new evidence, dates the year 2000) .
Ford Pintos and Ford Explorers, there does seem to be a recurring pattern here. At Ford quality is job number one!
How about: Bush foreign policy: unsafe at any speed?
Ford and Firestone have kissed and madeup, btw. My take on that is: ultimately Ford is most to blame, but Firestone really needs the contracts to be OEM, so Firestone has admitted limited liability and Ford, post-Nasser, has cooled it with trying to blame Firestone (for the facts are: 1. Ford under-specified an OEM tire; 2. recommended low inflation rates for the under-spec'd tire; and 3. still can't explain why their Explorers roll over so easily).
Combine all that with lack of tire maintenance, overloading of vehicles and highway speeds and aggressive driving well in excess of speed limits (everyone speeds just about), and you can explain the disaster. As for the shoddy workmanship on Firestone tires, I've found other models from other manufacturers that have just as high rates of tread separation. So if you don't check your tires (both visual checks and pressure checks) , combine offroad and onroad driving, overload your vehicle and go like Speed Racer out on the open road, you are asking to have tire failure.
Yours,
Charles Jannuzi