WASHINGTON (June 30, 2009)—Bridgestone Americas Inc. and Kumho Tire U.S.A. Inc. are voluntarily recalling tens of thousands of tires because of possible safety defects.
Bridgestone Americas is recalling 127,183 Firestone FR380 tires, size P235/75R15, all manufactured at the company's plant in San Jose, Costa Rica, between Sept. 9, 2007, and July 2, 2008. The tires have insufficient tread base gauge, which may lead to tire vibration, groove cracking and eventually tire distortion or separation, the company told the National Highway Traffic Administration.
This recall is an extension of a recall announced in the fall of 2008, Bridgestone said. In that earlier action, some 162,000 tires—all size P235/75R15 and sold under the Firestone FR380 and LeMans Champion SE brands—were recalled for the same tread base gauge problem.
Also, Kumho is recalling 36,292 Kumho Mohave A/T Light Truck All Terrain tires, sizes LT225/75R16, LT245/75R16 and LT265/75R16. The tires, which were manufactured between Dec. 7, 2008, and June 13, 2009, show rough handling performance when heavily loaded or changing lanes, causing vehicle swaying and possible crashes, Kumho said.