This is something I have never heard before, I sell tons of these tires and use them on my truck, they are a bit noisy, the original , quieter since.  All of them have got great mileage out of them as long as alignment is good and rotating when needed. Its not a great tire on gravel, they do get stone drilled pretty easy if drive alot of gravel.   Coopers are good and they are made in the USA for the most part.

Perhaps no Oct 1 early bird now, hence no word?

8 days till permits go on sale and still no word on pricing.  

Oh, that is not good - sorry to hear about the issues. I know the tail lights on the Lighting are stupid bucks, no idea the "normal" ones were that much.   I think about replacing by Dodge every so often, but it has been so good to me, knock on wood......I have a hard time coming to terms with getting rid of it.