More than 200,000 tires replaced within week of recall

NASHVILLE (Aug. 16)—Five days after a voluntary recall of 6.5 million North American light truck and sport-utility vehicle tires, Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. already has replaced more than 200,000 Firestone Radial ATX, ATX II and Wilderness AT tires in the U.S, is doubling its replacement tire production and has shortened its planned recall schedule. Under the bolstered efforts, the tire maker is producing 7,000 more tires per day than it was a week ago, according to the company, and is increasing imports to cover the recall. The new measures should enable Bridgestone/Firestone to complete the recall ``sometime next spring, instead of next summer as previously announced,´´ the firm said. Bridgestone/Firestone´s ATX, ATX II and Wilderness AT tires became the subject of controversy after reports of possible tread separation-related accidents.