21 Mar 2011
ERJ staff report (R&PN)
Washington DC -- Continental Tire the Americas L.L.C. has recalled 390,657 tyres manufactured at the Continental Tire de Mexico S.A. de C.V. plant in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, between May 6, 2007, and Sept. 20, 2008.
The tyres were all manufactured for use on what Conti called “a limited number†of Ford F-250 and F-350 trucks.
They include 160,746 LT275.70R18 125/122S Load Range E Continental ContiTrac TR tyres with outline white letters; 189,.701 LT275/70R18 125/122S Load Range E Continental ContiTrac TR tyres with black sidewalls; and 40,210 LT275/70R18 125/122S Load Range E Continental ContiTrac tyres with black sidewalls, Conti told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Some of the tyres in that group may experience uneven wear, vibration or separation between belt edges, particularly when overloaded, underinflated or operating in high heat, Conti said. This can result in tread belt separation and possible accidents.
Conti told NHTSA it began to observe an increase in warranty claims and property damage claims on these tyres beginning in September 2009. The tyre maker received notice of a fatality and a personal injury in a Ford truck equipped with one of the tyres. Although Conti was unable in analysing the failed tyre to find a root cause for its failure, it decided to declare a recall based on the history of returned tyres, warranty data and claims
Conti will replace the tyres free of charge and reimburse tyre owners who already paid to have the tyres replaced.
From Rubber & Plastics News (A Crain publication)
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