Chinese Tire Recall

[Dave-S]

It looks like NHTSA wants about 450,000 Chinese tires to be recalled.
I am sure Ken can enlighten us on the recall, but I was a bit surprised when I learned that China is the top importer of tires to the US according to the Washington Post

"China is the top importer of tires to the United States, with slightly less than 32 million units in 2006. About 40 percent of the tires in the United States were imported in 2006, up from 21 percent in 1996, according to the association."



http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...062602089.html

[wolfdogs]

WASHINGTON (June 27, 2007) — Four Democratic U.S. senators—Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, Sherrod Brown of Ohio, and Robert Casey of Pennsylvania—have sent a letter to President Bush, urging him to push the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to expedite the recall of 450,000 Chinese light truck tires.

The senators also want the president to push the Chinese government to provide the Department of Transportation (DOT) numbers needed to identify the recalled tires.

“Amazingly, the NHTSA has not pushed for an immediate recall of these defective products,” the senators wrote. “Instead, it is still squabbling with FTS (Foreign Tire Sales Inc.) over whether FTS has the funds to pay for the recall.”

Accusing Chinese manufacturers in general of having a flagrant disregard for consumer safety, the senators urged the president to investigate how unsafe Chinese tires and other products ever made it to the U.S. The tires—manufactured by Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co.—allegedly lack gum strips between the steel belts, making the tires prone to belt and tread separation.

They are sold in this country under the Westlake, Telluride, Compass and YKS brand names. New Jersey-based FTS sold the tires from 2001 until it severed ties with Hangzhou Zhongce in June 2006. FTS informed NHTSA of the defect in a June 11, 2007, report.



Serious stuff......

WASHINGTON (June 28, 2007) — Foreign Tire Sales (FTS) Inc. could face penalties of $6,000 per violation—or a maximum of $16.4 million—if it violates regulations pertaining to a tire recall ordered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the agency warned in a June 26 letter to the firm.

NHTSA ordered a recall of about 450,000 Chinese-made light truck tires bearing the names Westlake, Telluride, Compass and YKS after receiving information from FTS, the tires’ Union, N.J-based tire importer and wholesale distributor, of unusually high adjustment rates in 2005 and their suspected involvement in a Pennsylvania road accident that allegedly caused two deaths and a crippling brain injury.

The tires were manufactured by Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co. Ltd. of Hangzhou, China, starting in 2001 and sold exclusively by FTS originally in the U.S. Later Hangzhou Zhongce rescinded its exclusive deal with FTS and sold the tires through other distributors as well, according to an FTS filing with NHTSA. FTS said it stopped buying tires from Hangzhou Zhongce in June 2006.

FTS said it could not shoulder the financial burden of a recall, and other companies were importing or selling the tires as well.

But in the June 26 letter, Daniel Smith, associate administrator for enforcement, said NHTSA considers FTS the manufacturer of record since it imported the tires for resale. FTS’ report to NHTSA about the defect constitutes the notification by the manufacturer required by the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. A manufacturer that gives this notice, Mr. Smith wrote, is responsible for notifying owners, purchasers and dealers of the tires.

NHTSA also countered FTS’ claim that a recall would force it into bankruptcy.

“A company that chooses to import motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment into this country accepts the same responsibility for compliance with the safety act as any other manufacturer,” Mr. Smith wrote.

NHTSA said FTS must submit a revised report by July 2.

[Dave-S]

Ken..............which tires are made in China these days? Is it any of the popular brands we are familiar with? I didn't recognize any of the brands mentioned in the recall but I am sure there are many more brands of tires made in China than those mentioned.

[Jeff_in_Atl]

I don't understand why some people buy a performance car (or any car for that matter) and put crappy tires on it. The performance is where the rubber meets the road.

I am totally thrilled with the Firestone wide ovals over the last 9 months. I keep checking my air pressure and it continues to be 30 PSI. I have never put air in them. I guess the temperature rise has been enough to offset the air leakage. They are better than the SZ50s dry and wet. They are balanced and round. The KDWs I had were not round. This is the first performance tire I have ever had that did not tramlin (pull from side to side while driving).

[BrdWAtti2d]

FTS said it could not shoulder the financial burden of a recall

So? Don't do the crime if you can't do the time.

I'm so tired of people not taking responsibility for their actions and expecting everyone else to bail them out.

[Z Ya Later]

I don't understand why some people buy a performance car (or any car for that matter) and put crappy tires on it. The performance is where the rubber meets the road.

I am totally thrilled with the Firestone wide ovals over the last 9 months. I keep checking my air pressure and it continues to be 30 PSI. I have never put air in them. I guess the temperature rise has been enough to offset the air leakage. They are better than the SZ50s dry and wet. They are balanced and round. The KDWs I had were not round. This is the first performance tire I have ever had that did not tramlin (pull from side to side while driving).

I've been running them since Nov. of 05 and still love how they feel. I really liked my KDW's, but these are a much better tire. Still happy with the purchase almost 2 yrs. later

So Ken, like Dave asked, which tires are imported from China?

[Black97]

Based on ABC News thread they are as Ken mentioned

According to the filing, the Hangzhou tires at issue were sold under at least four brand names Westlake, Compass, Telluride and YKS in these sizes: LT235/75R-15; LT225/75R-16; LT235/85R-16; LT245/75R-16; LT265/75R-16; and LT3X10.5-15.

[Z Ya Later]

Never heard of any of them. I guess it pays not to go with cheapy tires?

[Jeff_in_Atl]

Never heard of any of them. I guess it pays not to go with cheapy tires?

Me neither. Always.

[wolfdogs]

id have to research to get all the brand designations, but Federal Tire of China is the largest one: http://www.federaltire.com

of course, Nankang has been around a long time, they build perf tires...actually pretty good tire, wears fast though.

[MunsonGTA]

I don't understand why some people buy a performance car (or any car for that matter) and put crappy tires on it. The performance is where the rubber meets the road.

I am totally thrilled with the Firestone wide ovals over the last 9 months. I keep checking my air pressure and it continues to be 30 PSI. I have never put air in them. I guess the temperature rise has been enough to offset the air leakage. They are better than the SZ50s dry and wet. They are balanced and round. The KDWs I had were not round. This is the first performance tire I have ever had that did not tramlin (pull from side to side while driving).

you only run 30 psi in your tires? is that what they call for? my tires are nitto nt 450's and require 35 psi, so do all the other tires i've ever seen meant for my car. 245/50 r16.

[Jeff_in_Atl]

you only run 30 psi in your tires? is that what they call for? my tires are nitto nt 450's and require 35 psi, so do all the other tires i've ever seen meant for my car. 245/50 r16.

What do you mean by your tire requires? The tire does not specify the air pressure. The car mfg does. The tire pressure chart on the door says 30 psi.

[Trash man]

Never heard of any of them. I guess it pays not to go with cheapy tires?

i have, we had a set of westlake LT235/85R16. we put them on and 2K latter they were outta blance. we just replaced them cuz we got them dirt cheap to try out.

the yks. i had them on my old taurus, the tread was a knock off of kumho

[MunsonGTA]

What do you mean by your tire requires? The tire does not specify the air pressure. The car mfg does. The tire pressure chart on the door says 30 psi.

my car has no such chart on the door, my tires say max 35 psi, i run 35 psi in them.

[MunsonGTA]

my car also has no rpo chart in it anywhere either. it should be 3 different places in the car, it's nowhere to be found on mine. i think the missing stickers are from the previous owner doing somewhat of a restore job on the car. the interior is pretty much mint and most of it looks like it's not original.