Firestone's In More Hot Water--PART II

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Dec 25, 2001

The Wilderness AT tires built after May of 1998 are made with a modified design. Thus, the agency elected not to recall these tires because it believes that they are not at such a substantial risk for failure. Specific design changes in the post-1998 Wilderness AT tires include a belt wedge built with increased dimensions and made out of improved materials. The agency does admit, however, that tire failure rarely occurs in a tire that is less than three years old. Therefore, it will continue to monitor the post-1998 Wilderness AT tires to determine if they are defective.

NHTSA reports that the Wilderness AT tires subject to the recall have been tied to 17 fatalities reported to the manufacturer through its claims system and six deaths reported directly to the agency. In addition, 41 injuries were reported to Firestone through its claims process.

Firestone has reportedly agreed to conduct the recall, although it has publicly stated that it does not agree with NHTSA's determination that the tires are defective. The company will however go beyond the scope of the recall and replace an additional 117,000 affected tires that have been installed on pickup trucks. NHTSA decided that the tires on the trucks need not be replaced because there was a greater risk of injury and death related to the use of the tires on SUVs. Specifically, the agency indicated that SUVs generally carry higher loads and the tire pressure recommended for the SUVs in light of the loads that they carry was particularly low. Low tire pressure, especially with heavier loads, can contribute to tread separation.

Firestone's action comes following a decision by Ford Motor Company to replace 15-, 16-, and 17-inch Wilderness AT tires installed on Ford Expeditions, Explorers, Explorer Sports, Explorer Sport Tracs, F-Series trucks, and Rangers; Mercury Mountaineers; and Mazda Navajos and B-Series trucks. The Ford replacement program covers an estimate 13 million tires in addition to those already recalled by federal government order.

Consumer groups such as Public Citizen and Safetyforum.com support the NHTSA decision, but the groups believe that the recall is not extensive enough. The groups advise consumers to replace their Wilderness AT tires manufactured after May of 1998 immediately, despite the findings made by the agency. Safetyforum.com says that this decision is prudent based on the existing evidence that tire pose an increased risk of failure as they age. In addition, the groups urge that NHTSA further investigate the role of the Ford Explorer in the tire failures that prompted the initial tire recall.

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