US Ends Review of Firestone Tyres

US Ends Review of Firestone Tyres

The US’ National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has rejected requests to investigate Bridgestone Firestone Steeltex tyres, having found no evidence of defects or unusually high failure rates.

It was the third time in two years that the NHTSA rejected claims that millions of Steeltex tyres may be defective.

The claims alleged that Steeltex tyres manufactured since 1995 were defective. A California attorney who has previously sued Firestone filed two petitions in May.

The agency said: “A preliminary review of the claims and other information found no evidence of defects.”
Firestone voluntarily recalled nearly 300,000 LT265/75R16 Steeltex tyres set for 2000 to 2003 Ford Excursions, back in February. However the action was taken after the government announced it was planning to investigate that model in connection with “a series of fatal crashes.”
The NHTSA reports more than 1,400 complaints of Steeltex tyre failures with more than 900 involving tread separation.There were 34 crashes linked to six deaths and 51 injuries.

More than 40 million Steeltex tyres have been manufactured by the company since 1990. The heavy duty radials are found as standard equipment on many passenger vans, SUVs and pickups. They are also used on rescue vehicles and motor homes.