NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Sept. 28)—A Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. spokeswoman dismissed as "old news" reports from the "Wall Street Journal" and elsewhere that the majority of original equipment tires on the 2002 Ford Explorer will be supplied by Michelin North America Inc. Ford CEO Jacques Nasser told the "Wall Street Journal" that granting the contract to Michelin represented "a major shift" in Ford policy. But the Bridgestone/Firestone spokeswoman said this is nothing that hasn´t been reported before. "We said before that there would be a choice of tires for the 2002 Explorer, and Firestone is one of the choices," she said. Ford and Michelin officials could not be reached for comment. Goodyear and Continental General Tire Inc. also are negotiating with Ford about supplying OE tires for the 2002 Explorer.
Ford´s choice of Michelin for Explorer is "old news," Bridgestone/Firestone says
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