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IX YEARS AGO, Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire announced a sweeping recall of its Radial ATX, Radial ATX II and Wilderness AT tires.
The company estimated it produced about 14.4 million of these tires, and 6.5 million were still spinning down roads at the time of the recall on Ford Explorers, Mercury Mountaineers and Mazda Navajos.
Shortly after the news broke, more than 95 percent of these SUV owners beat a path to tire dealers to have them replaced.
But there's a chance not everyone heeded the recall. Or remembered to replace their spare tires.
So consumers in the market for used cars need to make sure spare tires, in addition to the ones in use on the vehicle, are not part of the Bridgestone Firestone recall.
The problem surfaced this month when Sean Kane, head of Safety Research and and Strategies Inc. in Massachusetts, filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration claiming accidents are still being caused by the tires when faulty spares used.
NHTSA is currently in the midst of responding to Kane's filing, said Rae Tyson, spokesman for the organization.
In the meantime, NHTSA issued a consumer alert, reminding people to check their tires, including spare tires, and have them replaced if they were part of the recall.
"This recall is still ongoing," Tyson said.
Bridgestone Firestone estimates it replaced 6.3 million of the 6.5 million affected tires, Tyson said.
'That's probably the largest rate of replacement we've ever seen," Tyson said.
Nonetheless, it means about 200,000 recalled tires could still be stored in vehicle trunks and hatchbacks as spares.
Gene Petersen, tire program leader at Consumers Union, the nonprofit organization that publishes Consumer Reports magazine, said the recalled tires have become even more dangerous over the past six years. Age and exposure to weather conditions have made these tires fragile and even more prone to blowouts.
"Certainly, if you have one or more of these tires on your vehicle, you should have them taken off," Petersen said.
Petersen advised people to check recall lists as part of regular tire maintenance and replacement. Don't neglect your spare.
"If it's been in the car six years or longer, it's probably a good time to consider replacing it," Petersen said.
Many of the accidents involving the recalled Bridgestone Firestone tires happened in Southern states, indicating high temperatures might have played a role in tire failures. This summer, as temperatures soar into the 90s and even 100s, NHTSA strongly encourages vehicle owners to monitor tire pressure. Petersen recommends checking tire pressure once a week.
"The thing we can't emphasize enough is the importance of maintaining tire pressure, especially in the light truck category--vans, SUVs and pickups that are more prone to rollover. It's so important to check your tire pressure, especially in hot weather," Tyson said.
If you're shopping for new tires, consult NHTSA's tire safety rating before you buy. The agency rates 2,400 lines of passenger vehicle tires sold in the United States. Tires are rated based on traction, tread, and heat resistance. Ratings are posted on NHTSA's Web site at safercar
For more information on recalled tires, customers can contact Firestone consumer affairs at 800/367-3872.
To reach KELLY HANNON:
Email: khannon@freelancestar.com
