Goodyear Offers Recall Assistance, Warning of Misapplication
25 August 2000
Goodyear Offers Recall Assistance, Warning of MisapplicationAKRON, Ohio, Aug. 23 Despite the best efforts of tire companies to supply the market as quickly as possible with replacement tires for the recalled 6.5 million Firestone ATX, ATXII and Wilderness AT tires, many consumers seeking replacements may find the tires extremely difficult to find ... or even end up with the wrong tires on their vehicles. Demands from concerned consumers seeking to put any tire in that size on their vehicles, as long as the size fits, adds apprehension to the supply issue. That can be a serious mistake according to Goodyear, the world's largest tire maker. Misapplication, or putting the wrong tire in the same size on a vehicle, may put the passengers of those vehicles at risk. Goodyear, which by the end of August will have supplied more than 1 million applicable tires in the affected size to assist the recall, offers these tips to consumers seeking replacements: * Be an informed vehicle owner and consumer. * Refer to your vehicle owner's manual for recommended replacement tire information and adhere strictly to those standards. If the manual requires a tire with the designation "P" for p-metric, it should not be replaced with an "LT" or light truck tire. * Shop at a reputable retailer. Go to someone you trust who will assist you in finding the right tire for the application. If you are unable to find a suitable replacement tire for your vehicle, Goodyear says you should take these precautionary steps until additional tires reach the retail outlets: * Have your tires visually inspected by a professional. Any reputable retailer will do this for you free of charge. Be advised that the visual inspection can only detect what the eye can see, and doesn't mean that there are no potential problems. * Check your tire inflation pressures once a week to be certain they meet with the acceptable vehicle recommendations. There likely is a difference between the maximum inflation listed on the sidewall of the tire and what the vehicle manufacturer recommends specifically for that vehicle. Use the vehicle recommendation. * Do a walk-around inspection of your tires before driving your vehicle. * ALWAYS fasten your seatbelts, and make certain everyone in the vehicle has their seatbelt fastened as well. * Obey all posted speed limits. * Call and reserve a set of replacement tires today. Goodyear outlets will call you as soon as your tires arrive. To meet the unprecedented demand for these type tires, Goodyear has dedicated more than 1,000 associates in eight manufacturing facilities and its distribution centers solely to producing as many of these tires as possible. Additionally, it is increasing production of tires to meet this application by 500 percent to assist consumers who want their tires replaced.