• by Cohn Barnett
Page 13
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Japanese tyre maker Bridgestone, owner of the Firestone brand, is recalling millions of potentially defective 4x4 tyres.
The tyres are all Firestone Radial ATX and ATXII models and Wilderness ATs built at Decatur, Illinois: all are in P235/15R16 S size.
There are only a few thousand of these tires in Europe, mainly original equipment on imported vehicles and others sold on the after-market. Any of the tyres specified will be replaced by alternative Bridgestone or Firestone tyres free, regardless of age or mileage.
The move follows the launch of a massive recall campaign in North America, where 6.5 million tyres are understood to be in use on pickups and sports utilities.
They have been implicated in about 270 accidents, involving 46 deaths, reported to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, although Bridgestone has not identified any inherent defect in the tyres.
The accidents are alleged to have occurred when treads have separated from the casings, often at high speed. The incidents are believed to be related to high ambient temperatures and, as a result, the staged recall, which is likely to cost $500m (1333m), will begin in the hottest southern states.
Of the manufacturers, Ford has been worst hit, with about three-quarters of the reported accidents involving its Explorer model. But other Ford models, together with vehicles from GM and Toyota, may also have been involved.
A Ford spokeswoman has confirmed that none of its UK products is affected. The Explorer is only sold here with 16in tyres, and the Ranger pickup is supplied with either Pirelli or Michelin covers.
Likewise, Toyota GB confirms that, although some of its products may have aftermarket fitments, the sizes affected have never been fitted as original equipment to UK models.