Ford-Firestone ties to break soon

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 6)—Bridgestone/Firestone still supplies original equipment tires for Ford Motor Co., but that should end in "a couple of months" as soon as Ford qualifies new OE suppliers for those models, a BFS spokeswoman said. Bridgestone/Firestone officially severed its 95-year relationship with Ford in May 2001, after the auto maker unilaterally decided to replace 13 million Firestone tires on Ford vehicles in addition to the 6.5 million BFS recalled. But the tire maker has continued to honor its pre-existing commitments to Ford. "We always said we wouldn't leave them hanging," the spokeswoman said.