Bridgestone/Firestone recalls 18,912 FR690 tires

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Sept 10)—Bridgestone/Firestone is recalling 18,912 Firestone FR690 tires, size P195/65R15, in an effort to retrieve 890 tires that may be defective. The tires, made at the Bridgestone/Firestone plant in Wilson, N.C., between April 12 and 15, were manufactured with a piece of equipment that wasn't functioning properly, according to an internal review. In 890 of the tires, there may be "localized, intermittent pockets of air" between the tread and the tread under-cushion, leading to a helicopter-like noise while driving and eventually a "chunk-out" of tread materials, the company said. The recalled tires may have been used as original equipment on 2003 Toyota Corolla S and LE vehicles assembled between April and September 2002, Bridgestone/Firestone said.