Tires Recalled Due to Serious Risks

June 2007

A special alert for motorists – two national recalls affecting cars, light trucks, and motorcycles have pulled nearly 475,000 tires from the market. Foreign Tire Sales (FTS), a New Jersey based importer of China’s Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber, has received a government order to recall 450,000 tires. Michelin has also issued a recall for nearly 20,000 of their motorcycle tires.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the FTS-imported Hangzhou Zhongce tires pose the risk of tread separation. The tires lack a gum strip that holds together internal layers and belts. This defect could cause the tires to separate while driving, posing the risk of serious crash and even rollover. The FTS-imported tires were sold for full-size vans, SUVs, pickups, and light trucks under the brand names Compass, Telluride, Westlake, and YKS.

Michelin, a French auto parts manufacturer, has issued a recall for 19,924 motorcycle tires sold in North America. These tires also pose a risk of tread separation, as well as tread deformation, tread loss, and unstable vibration. The front-tire models included in the recall are: Michelin Pilot Power 2CT and Michelin Pilot Power; size 120/70 ZR 17 (58W); product numbers DOT 6UCW 980T and DOT 6UCW 979T.