Report: Goodyear Replacing Tires Quietly

L O S  A N G E L E S, Nov. 7, 2000 -- Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. has been quietlyoffering free replacements for thousands of tires in a practiceknown as a “silent recall,” the Los Angeles Times reportedtoday.

Goodyear acknowledged last month that tread separation involvingits 16-inch Load Range E light-truck tires has been linked to 120injuries and 15 deaths. Company officials have said a recall wasn’tnecessary because it found no defects in the tires.

The Times, citing unidentified sources, said Goodyear hasreceived more than 3,000 claims since 1995 about its light-trucktires. Most of those claims have been settled, with consumersreceiving replacement tires and reimbursements for vehicle damage.

The company questioned that figure and said it was simplyproviding “customer satisfaction” replacements on a case-by-casebasis.

Goodyear spokesman Chuck Sinclair said he does not know wherethe 3,000 figure came from and would not provide one from thecompany.

“Because you’re dealing with customers’ satisfaction andbecause all tire companies don’t keep tire records the same ... howyou use those numbers can be very misleading and meaningless,” hesaid.

Goodyear: No Recall Needed

Goodyear acknowledged last month that tread separation involvingits 16-inch Load Range E light-truck tires has been linked to 125injuries and 15 deaths. Company officials have said a recall wasn’tnecessary because it found no defects in the tires.

Sinclair suggested some consumers were using vehicles forextraordinary purposes that might be better served by a differenttire.

“If people are buying the larger vehicles and adding equipmenton those vehicles, then certainly there are cases where you want togo with a different tire,” he said. “There’s nothing wrong withthe tires that are out there when used with the application forwhich they are intended to be used.”

Safety advocates and lawyers believe the Akron, Ohio-based tiremaker is placing thousands of drivers and passengers at risk by notdeclaring a full public recall, the newspaper said.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration saidMonday it was expanding its inquiry into the fatal accidentsinvolving Goodyear’s light-truck tires.

In August, Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. voluntarily recalled 6.5million ATX, ATX II and Wilderness AT tires, most of which werestandard equipment on the Ford Explorer. The NHTSA is investigating3,500 complaints and 119 traffic deaths in connection with thosetires.