WASHINGTON (April 9, 2010)—Bridgestone Americas is voluntarily recalling 768 Potenza RE050A, Turanza ER30 and B390 radials that were shipped from Bridgestone Corp. plants in Japan without the required U.S. federal safety labels.
Bridgestone said in a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration the tires were part of a larger shipment intended for original equipment fitment on vehicles assembled in the U.S. or Canada for export to markets outside of North America.
The tires being recalled were shipped inadvertently to customers in the U.S. replacement market. Bridgestone said because the tires were not intended for use in the U.S., they do not meet the marking requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard. The missing labels could lead to the tires' being over- or underinflated, increasing the risk of a crash, NHTSA's recall notice said.
Bridgestone is offering free replacement for the tires through July 31 at its company-owned stores. The tires being recalled are: Potenza RE050A in size 245/45R18 XL; Turanza ER30 in size 205/65R15; and B390 in size 205/65/R16.
Bridgestone told NHTSA it has located and quarantined 220 of the tires, meaning 548 of them potentially were sold.