Cooper Tire Recall

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today released a list of auto safety recalls announced in January 2001 and urged consumers to have the problems fixed promptly.

The list identifies the make and model of the vehicle or equipment involved, with a brief description of the safety problem.

NHTSA said it is publicizing the recalls to alert consumers about safety problems and encourages them to take action. Under federal law, safety problems must be remedied without cost to consumers. Currently, 72 percent of the owners of vehicles with safety problems have the recall work performed.

NHTSA said manufacturers are required to mail a recall notice to all purchasers, owners and dealers when a safety defect or noncompliance with Federal safety standards is found. The agency urges owners to wait until they receive notification from the manufacturer before contacting their dealers to schedule the repair work. Not all vehicles of a particular make and model may be subject to the recall.

Consumers can get up-to-the-minute information on safety recall campaigns, or information on the recall history of a particular make and model of car, truck, motorcycle, or child safety seat, by calling the agency's toll-free Auto Safety Hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236), or by accessing NHTSA on the Internet at http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov. The Hotline also can be used to report safety problems.

Cooper Tire and Rubber Company

Models: Cooper 130/80R17 65H Tires

Cooper 140/80R17 69H Tires

Cooper 150/70R17 69H Tires

Number Involved: 1,729

Dates of Manufacture: January 1994 - May 2000

Defect: Certain Cooper‑Avon Tyres Limited motorcycle tires, sizes 130/80R17 65H manufactured from Aug. 7, 1995 through Feb. 26, 2000; 140/80R17 69H manufactured between Jan. 3, 1994, and May 13, 2000; and 150/70R17 69H manufactured between Feb. 27, 1995, and Nov. 7, 1998, may develop radial cracks between tread lugs in the shoulder area. In certain service conditions where excessive flexing of the tire sidewall occurs, this may lead to a separation between components in the shoulder/sidewall which in turn may lead to a sudden deflation of the tire. Should this condition occur, a vehicle crash, personal injury, or death could be the result. Driving at highway speeds should be avoided until the tires have been inspected and replaced.

Remedy: Cooper will notify its customers to return these tires to their local dealer for free replacement tires. The manufacturer has reported that owner notification began Jan. 23, 2001. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Cooper at 1-800-624-7470.

[NHTSA Recall No. 01T002/Cooper Recall No. 113]