Dangerous tires recalled

Joeten Motors general manager Carlos Camacho has issued an advisory to clients to bring their Ford vehicles to the company to check whether its tires are included in the list of those that have been ordered recalled due to the dangers they pose both on the motorists and the public.

Mr. Camacho said Joeten Motors will check the tire codes for its clients and provide replacements if the tires are among those that were recalled.

This, as officials of Bridgestone Firestone Tire Company have announced the recall of about 6.5 million Firestone tires, which covers certain sizes such as P235/75RI5 ATX, ATXII, and some Wilderness AT tires.

The recall follows mounting evidence that some of the tires are prone to flinging off their treads, sometimes with catastrophic results.

Bridgestone/Firestone is currently facing at least 50 lawsuits involving 46 deaths and 80 injuries alleged to have been caused by defective tires of the types included in the recall.

There is also an ongoing federal investigation of the problem.

The tires involved were original equipment tires on some 1991-2000 Ford Explorers, 1991-2000 Ford Explorer Sports, 1996-2000 Mercury Mountaineers, 1991-2000 Ford Rangers, 1991-1994 Ford F-Series pickup trucks, 1991-1994 Ford Broncos, 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Tracs, 1994-2000 Mazda B Series or 1991-1994 Mazda Navajos.

Some of the recalled tires may be on the road today as replacement tires on all types of vehicles.

Most of the accidents associated with the tires happened in Southern or Southwestern states due to prolonged exposure to high temperatures.

Many other tire failures occurred in Saudi Arabia and other hot countries, where even the 16″ tires were replaced.

Experts agreed that the likely mechanism for generating the excessive heat was the tire sidewalls flexing because the tires were underinflated or the vehicle was overloaded.
The problem would be worsened by hot pavement and high air temperatures. Ford reported that it had ‘anecdotal reports’ of tire damage from Saudi Arabia, where drivers let air out of the tires to drive on the desert, and then drove at high speed on highways.

Without reinflating the tires to their standard pressure. Ford has offered free replacement in several countries with hot climates.

Only 15 inch tires are involved. To determine if your tires have been recalled, first look at the size designation printed on the outside of the tire. If your tire size ends in any number other than 15″, your tires are not involved.

Firestone Wilderness AT tires made at the Decatur, Illinois, plant have also been recalled. During a strike in 1994-96, this plant continued to produce tires with replacement workers and management personnel, and many of the defective Wilderness AT tires were allegedly made at this time in this plant.

However, all Wilderness AT tires manufactured at this plant at any time have been recalled. Tires bearing the DOT code ‘VDHL’ were made at the Decatur plant. This code is located on the inside sidewall of the tire and can be difficult to find.

In a letter sent to Attorney General Herbert D. Soll, Ford Motor Company is asking motorists to immediately determine if they have tires covered by the recall.

Mazda customers whose vehicles are equipped with tires affected by the recall are also being asked to schedule appointments with their local Ford or Firestone dealer. As the supply of Firestone replacement tires is limited, Ford has authorized the use of comparable tires from other manufacturers as replacement tires.