Connecticut attorney general to probe recalled Chinese tyres

By Miles Moore, Tire Business staff

Hartford, Connecticut- Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has announced an investigation into the distribution and sale of recalled Chinese light truck tyres manufactured by Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co. and warned tyre dealers against selling them.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has ordered the recall of 450 000 of these tyres, but Union, New Jersey-based Foreign Tire Sales (FTS) Inc.-importer of the tyres and the manufacturer of record in case of a recall-told NHTSA it doesn't have the money to pay for one.

FTS is suing Hangzhou Zhongce in the US District Court for the District of New Jersey.

In a statement, Mr. Blumenthal said he has begun contacting other states for a possible joint action on the tyres.

He also warned Connecticut tyre dealers against continuing to sell the tyres, saying they could face stiff state penalties and liability for any accidents arising from the tyres' failure.

FTS told NHTSA that the tyres-bearing the brand names Westlake, Telluride, Compass and YKS-lack gum strips between steel belts, making them prone to belt and tread separation.

From Tire Business (A Crain publication)