Michelin's replacement supply deal with Ford similar to Goodyear's

GREENVILLE, S.C. (June 1)—Michelin North America Inc.'s agreement with Ford Motor Co. to provide replacements for recalled Firestone Wilderness AT tires is "absolutely" the same as Goodyear's in many respects, according to a spokeswoman for Greenville-based Michelin. "We have already ramped up production more than 200 percent in our 11 passenger and light truck tire plants, and six plants in particular have maximized production on a 24-hour, seven-day schedule," the spokeswoman said. In a deal similar to Goodyear's, Michelin will allow owners of the Wilderness tires to replace them free of charge at any of its more than 10,000 retail outlets in North America, she added. The spokeswoman couldn't say how many replacement tires Michelin would provide for Ford's recall, but she did say the replacement effort wouldn't affect any of the tire maker's other accounts. "Our transport group and our logistics group are working around the clock to make sure that doesn't happen," she said.