Tires

Statement of Joan Claybrook, President, Public Citizen

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today issued a final rule restricting public access to much of the “early warning” data that the auto and tire industry is required to submit by law to assist in the early identification of motor vehicle safety defects.

The Bush administration is addicted to secrecy. Despite losing in the courts, the administration insists on trying again to produce a rule that will keep us in the dark about potential defects and other safety hazards in the cars we drive.    » read more »

August 24, 2007 -- SPOKANE – Consumers who purchased recently recalled Westlake, Compass or YKS tires are eligible for free replacements.    » read more »

Recall Information and Claim Forms Below

August 15, 2007 -- NEWARK - New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram and Acting Consumer Affairs Director Stephen B. Nolan announced that a New Jersey-based importer of Chinese-made tires that is under investigation by state authorities is recalling 255,000 defective light truck tires nationwide.    » read more »

09 August 2007 -- China has temporarily suspended exports by two toy manufacturers that were the subject of product recalls in the United States.

China's top product safety agency, the General Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, said in a statement Thursday that the companies were being asked to correct problems.

Both companies have been the subject of large-scale recalls of toys found to be contaminated with lead paint.    » read more »

Texans urged to check for potentially dangerous tires distributed by Foreign Tire Sales, Inc.

August 9, 2007 -- AUSTIN –Foreign Tire Sales, Inc. (FTS), in accordance with the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, today issued a recall of tires that could be in danger of tread separation. The Office of the Attorney General is urging Texas drivers to check their vehicles for these potentially dangerous tires and contact FTS to learn more about replacing the recalled products.    » read more »

August 9, 2007 -- Jefferson City, Mo. — Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon announced a formal nationwide recall beginning today of 255,000 light truck radial tires manufactured by Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co., Ltd. of Hangzhou, China between early 2004 and mid-2006 and imported by Foreign Tire Sales (FTS) Inc. of Union, New Jersey.

Nixon says the brands subject to recall are Westlake, Compass and YKS. According to FTS, the tires lack a “gum strip” – a rubber strip between the steel belts – making them susceptible to premature tread separation, which can cause serious accidents.    » read more »

August 9, 2007 -- Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison announced a formal nationwide recall beginning today of 255,000 light truck radial tires made in China by Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co., Ltd. (HZ) between 2004 and mid-2006. The tires were imported by Foreign Tire Sales (FTS), Inc. and may experience tread separation.

Last week, Morrison issued a consumer alert to warn consumers about these potentially dangerous tires as they were being investigated by a multi-state group of Attorneys General.    » read more »

Urges Consumers, Retailers To Act Swiftly

August 9, 2007 -- Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal announced a formal nationwide recall beginning today of 255,000 light truck radial tires manufactured by Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co., Ltd. of Hangzhou, China between early 2004 and mid-2006 and imported by Foreign Tire Sales (FTS), Inc. of Union, N.J.    » read more »

August 02, 2007 -- SPOKANE – Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna today urged consumers to check the tires on their SUV, pickup or van in case they are among those being recalled. Attorneys General in 24 states issued consumer alerts and have formed a working group to look into concerns that an estimated 270,000 tires brought into the U.S. from China may be potentially unsafe.    » read more »

August 2, 2007 -- The Texas Office of the Attorney General is urging Texas drivers to check their vehicles for potentially dangerous tires. The tires were sold from 2002 to 2006 for light trucks, sports utility vehicles, and vans, and could be in danger of tread separation. The tires were made by Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co. Ltd. (“HZ”) in China and distributed in the United States under several names, including Westlake, YKS and Compass.    » read more »

August 2, 2007 -- Westlake, YKS and Compass tires purchased between 2002-2006 for trucks, SUVs and vans should be carefully examined for defects and reported to tire dealers.

Oregon Attorney General Hardy Myers today warned consumers about potentially dangerous tires manufactured between 2002 to 2006 for light trucks, sports utility vehicles (SUVs), and vans. The tires were made by Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co. Ltd. (HZ) in China and distributed in the United States under the names Westlake, YKS, and Compass.    » read more »

08/02/2007 -- In the midst of the summer travel season, Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson today warned consumers about potentially hazardous tires that are likely on thousands of consumer-driven trucks, sport utility vehicles and vans.    » read more »

August 3, 2007 -- LANSING - Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox is warning consumers about potentially dangerous tires distributed by Foreign Tires Sales (FTS). The company filed a Non-Compliance Report with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) claiming that at least 270,000 tires are missing "gum strips," an important part of a tire related to the prevention of tread separation.

An estimated 1,500 of the potentially unsafe tires are believe to have been sold in Michigan.    » read more »

BALTIMORE, MD (August 2, 2007) - Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler is warning consumers about potentially dangerous tires that may have been sold to Maryland drivers and could create a potential safety hazard for those riding in light trucks, sports utility vehicles, and vans equipped with the tires. The tires were manufactured by the Chinese tire company, Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co., and imported into the United States by Foreign Tire Sales, Inc. (FTS) of Union, New Jersey. The affected tires may be susceptible to tread separation, which can cause serious accidents.    » read more »

August 02, 2007 -- Kentucky Attorney General Greg Stumbo issued a consumer warning related to potentially dangerous tires sold from 2002 to 2006 for light trucks, sports utility vehicles (SUVs), and vans. The tires were manufactured in China.    » read more »