NHTSA issues consumer advisory about Firestone tires

WASHINGTON (Sept. 1)—Some 1.4 million non-recalled Bridgestone/Firestone Inc.-made tires are subject to the same problems as the 6.5 million already being recalled, according to a consumer advisory from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The agency listed 27 different lines of Firehawk ATX, ATX 23 Degree, Widetrack Radial Baja, Widetrack Radial Baja A/S and Wilderness AT tires as having the same high rate of tread separation as the ATX, ATX II and Wilderness AT tires Bridgestone/Firestone recalled Aug. 9. Most of the recalled tires were made in Bridgestone/Firestone´s Decatur, Ill., facility, except for two lines manufactured in Oklahoma City, Okla., and one made in Wilson, N.C. One line was original equipment on the 1991 Chevy Blazer, one on the 1991-94 Nissan pickup, and another on the 1996-98 Ford F150. Bridgestone/Firestone refused NHTSA´s suggestion to recall the extra tires at a meeting in Washington Aug. 31, according to the advisory. A Bridgestone/Firestone spokeswoman in a statement said the company disagrees with the analysis that led to NHTSA´s advisory, but will inspect and replace for free any of the tires if a consumer still in concerned about them.