Jun 26, 2007 7:23 pm US/Eastern
Up To 1 Million Chinese Tires Recalled
Union, N.J. Company: Vital Safety Feature Removed
by Kirstin Cole
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
In recent weeks, Chinese exports including toothpaste, pet food, even toys, were found to be dangerously contaminated.
Now, officials estimate there may be as many as a million defective tires, manufactured in China, that have been sold in the United States since 2002. And as CBS 2 HD has learned, it's all because a vital safety feature was secretly removed.
A deadly accident killed two people in Pennsylvania in August 2006. At fault, according to attorneys, were the tires on the van. And a million more of these potentially deadly tires may still be on the road.
"The vehicle becomes uncontrollable, strikes an embankment, rolls over, ejecting all three men," attorney Jeffrey Killino said.
The tires were made by a Chinese Company, Hangzhou Zhongce, (hung-zho zan-chay) and imported by Foreign Tire Sales out of Union, N.J.
FTS distributed 450,000 of them across the U.S., including about 21,000 in New York and New Jersey. But sometime during its four years of importing, FTS said the Chinese manufacturer secretly removed a safety feature, known as a gum strip, which helps adhere the steel belts together, and keeps the tread on the tires.
"They lied to us," said Larry Lavigne, attorney for FTS.
FTS said they first got wind of a problem when warranty replacement requests started rising in the fall of 2005. But FTS did not notify the National Highway Safety Administration for a year and a half until just two weeks ago, after it said it completed safety testing that showed tread separation.
The recalled tires are: Westlake, Telluride, Compass and YKS made for SUVs, pick-up trucks, minivans and other light trucks.
And a wider recall may still be needed as approximately half a dozen other U.S. companies may also be importing the tires, and even more companies may be using Hungzhou Zhongce to make private label tires. NHTSA was unable to provide any further information on how many importers were involved, or number of tires on the road today.
NHTSA will not aid in the recall. FTS, with only 15 employees, estimates this recall would cost $90 million, which will just bankrupt them. So, as a consumer, first check and see if you have this tire.
Any vibrations, noise, external bulges should be checked immediately and returned. Keep in mind, you simply can't see the micro-cracks inside that would exhibit the lack of the gum strip safety feature.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Gunman Holding NY Principal Hostage 2 mins ago 
Stumble It!
Comments