Conti to recall 160,000 tires

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Sept. 20)—Continental General Tire Inc. voluntarily will recall approximately 160,000 ContiTrac AS tires used on Lincoln Navigators following meetings between Conti, Ford Motor Co. and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Sept. 19. Conti said it was launching the recall because some 16-inch ContiTrac AS tires mounted on Navigators are susceptible to heat stress which can create belt lift in the shoulder of the tire. That can cause a section of the tread belt package to detach from the tire casing which can result in damage to the vehicle. About 140,000 16-inch original equipment ContiTrac AS tires, size P245/75R16, mounted on approximately 38,000 Lincoln Navigators, model years 1998 and 1999, and another 20,000 replacement tires are involved in the recall, according to Continental. The tires will be replaced without cost, the company said. Three tires have been designated as replacements: ContiTrac AS Contact P245/75R16, Grabber AW P255/70R16 and Ameri 660 AS P255/70R16. The recall does not cover 17-inch ContiTrac AS tires, size P255/75R17, used on the Navigator, Conti said, and only 16-inch ContiTrac AS tires made prior to 1998 are involved. The company said it has made changes to improve the uniformity of the tire since 1998.