Bridgestone recalls over 10k tires in US, Canada

Nashville, Tennessee – Bridgestone Americas and Bridgestone Canada have collectively issued a voluntary recall for 10,380 Firestone Transforce HT and Firestone Transforce AT tires in size LT275/70R18. 

Produced between 2-8 May 2021, the tires “were not manufactured according to specification, and this could pose a safety risk,” said Bridgestone in a 4 Feb statement. 

Specifically, tires included in the recall may have been manufactured with “an incorrect inner liner rubber compound,” said Bridgestone, adding that this may result in increased air permeability and/or inner liner cracking. 

Increased permeability and/or cracking could allow air and moisture to migrate through the inner liner, into the tire’s carcass and eventually to the belt edges, which could lead to belt edge separations later in the tires’ service life. 

If undetected, belt edge separations could progress to belt detachments, potentially leading to loss of vehicle control and an increased risk of a crash, Bridgestone explained. 

The Japanese manufacturer said the tires included in the recall were supplied to Stellantis as original equipment for installation on 2021-2022 RAM 2500 and RAM 3500 vehicles and were sold through retailers in the replacement market in the US and Canada.

There are no known accidents or injuries involving tires subject to the recall, the tire maker added.

Bridgestone estimates approximately 5% of all recalled tires to have the affected condition. 

“However, out of an abundance of caution, Bridgestone has extended the scope of the recall to include all potentially affected tires within the compromised DOT date code ranges,” it added.