Firestone recall: certain tires may be dangerous

By: Drivers.com staff

Date: Monday, 03. November 2008

Failure of certain Bridgestone/Firestone tires on SUVs and light trucks may be related to heat, a company executive has announced.

Gary Crigger, executive vice president said at a Washington, DC, news conference that most of the incidents in which the tires failed are in the southern-most U.S. states of Arizona, California, Florida, and Texas, which suggests there may be a direct correlation between heat and tire performance.

Saying the safety of consumers is the company's first concern, Crigger announced a voluntary recall of all Firestone Radial ATX and Radial ATX II tires in size P235/75R15 produced in North America, including Mexico, and Wilderness AT tires in size P235/75R15 produced at the Decatur, Illinois plant.

The recall includes original equipment and replacement tires of that size, regardless of the vehicle's manufacturer. Vehicle owners will be notified of the recall by mail. Bridgestone/Firestone will replace all of these tires with brand new Wilderness AT or other Bridgestone/Firestone tires. If necessary, the company will obtain other sources of supply.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is currently conducting a preliminary evaluation of the tires after allegations they may have been responsible for up to 46 deaths and hundreds of injuries. About 14.4 million of these tires have been produced. The company estimates that the number still in use and involved in the recall is 6.5 million.

Most of the faulty tires are on Ford Motor Co. vehicles, especially the Explorer. Ford estimates that of the 6.5 million faulty tires still believed to be in use, about 5 million are on its vehicles. About 1.8 million Ford vehicles have been manufactured with the recalled tires since 1990 and about half of those vehicles are still on the road, Ford estimates. They include the Ranger pickup, F150 pickup, Mercury Mountaineer sport-utility, Mazda Navajo sport-utility, and Mazda B-Series pickup.

Other automakers-General Motors, Nissan, Toyota, and Subaru-are also impacted, but to a much lesser degree.

At the Washington press conference, Crigger also urged consumers to take additional steps to increase the life span and safety of their tires by maintaining proper inflation.

"When under inflated, all radial tires generate excessive heat," Crigger said. "Driving on tires in this condition can lead to tread separation. Maintaining the proper inflation level will enhance the performance and life span of these tires."

Customers who have a recalled tire will receive a letter from the company notifying them of the recall and the steps they need to take. People who need assistance should call the toll-free customer service number at 1-800-465-1904 or visit Master Care to find the location of the nearest Firestone authorized service center.

Those who have a recalled tire should call their nearest local Firestone retailer to set up an appointment for an exchange. Because the preponderance of incidents is in the four southern states and given the limited supply of replacement tires at this time, the company will be undertaking a three phase recall starting in Arizona, California, Florida, and Texas. The second phase for the recall will be implemented in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. The final phase will include the remainder of the states.

All vehicle owners using Wilderness tires should keep their tires inflated at the pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.

For owners of Ford Explorers or Mercury Mountaineers, with P235/75R15 ATX and Wilderness AT tires on their vehicles, Ford recommends these tires be maintained at a minimum of 26 pounds per square inch (psi). At the request of Firestone, Ford has evaluated the performance of these tires at 30 psi and has determined that the vehicles maintain good performance characteristics at this higher pressure. Ford recommends a tire pressure range of 26-30 psi. Firestone recommends a tire pressure of 30 psi.

Firestone also urged all Wilderness tire owners to contact their nearest Firestone service center for a free inspection. "We will inspect each customer's tires for damage or excessive wear, while checking to make sure the tires are inflated to the level specified by the vehicle's manufacturer," said Crigger.

Crigger reiterated that these steps are being taken to protect consumer safety and satisfaction. "We extend our condolences to families that have lost loved ones in accidents. We also apologize to our customers for the inconvenience this recall causes and we ask for their patience," he added.

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Nerice,

david lafleur,

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