Yokohama issues 2 non-safety-related recalls

ERJ staff report (TB)

Washington DC -- Yokohama Tire Corp. (YTC) is voluntarily recalling a few thousand Avid H4S and A680 passenger radials because of missing or incomplete tyre identification numbers.

The Avid H4S recall involves 6,254 tyres size P215/60R15 93H, manufactured between Dec. 2, 2007, and Sept. 19, 2009, at YTC's plant in Salem, Va., according to the recall notice issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The A680 recall involves 1,205 tyres, size 205/50R16 87V, manufactured between Sept. 1, 2007, and Nov. 28, 2009, at parent Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd.'s plant in Shinshiro, Japan.

These tyres lack a complete TIN on one sidewall, which means they fail to conform to a provision of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 139, NHTSA said, and could make it more difficult for consumes to identify these tyres in the event of a safety-related performance issue.

There are no safety issues with either tyre, YTC said.

The H4S's Department of Transportation identification numbers are CC7F - 4807 to CC74 - 3709, NHTSA said. The A680 radials being recalled have the DOT codes FD3V - 3407 to FD3V - 4809.

YTC had asked NHTSA for a ruling on inconsequential non-compliance in both cases as long ago as December 2009, but NHTSA denied the petition for the Avid H4S on Feb. 16, 2012. Thereafter YTC withdrew its petition for the A680 as well.

Yokohama will replace the recalled tyres free of charge.

The recalls are expected to start on or about April 6, NHTSA and YTC said, and will last 60 days.

From Tire Business (A Crain publication)

NHTSA recall notice 10T001000

NHTSA recall notice 09T014000