WASHINGTON (June 16)—The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has asked the lead attorney in a class action against Bridgestone/Firestone to provide further information to back his claim that Firestone Steeltex tires are inherently defective.
Among other things, the agency asked Joseph L. Lisoni in a June 1 letter for a list of the ambulance and emergency medical service companies that he alleges are claiming accidents caused by Steeltex tires. Two previous NHTSA investigations of Steeltex tires—including one instigated by Lisoni—ended without findings of defect trends.
Lisoni's new petition concentrates on Steeltex ambulance tires, but a BFS spokesman said his company isn't concerned. "Our tires have an excellent service record on ambulances, and once people who understand the data take a look at them, they'll see that's the case," he said. The Nashville, Tenn.-based tire maker will comply with any NHTSA information requests, he added.