Michigan attorney general files felony charges in used tire case

LANSING, Mich. (May 15)—Michigan Attorney General Jennifer Granholm has filed felony charges against a Remus, Mich., man who allegedly illegally sold used Firestone tires with their U.S. Department of Transportation identification numbers removed. The tires were part of last summer´s Ford and Firestone recall program. Bridgestone/Firestone employees discovered the illegal sales over the Internet and alerted Granholm's office, the DOT and Michigan State Police. "We're very supportive of this action," a BFS spokeswoman said. "This is also a safety issue, because in removing the DOT number, you leave a 4-inch gouge in the sidewall that of course weakens the sidewall."