Recalled tyres ‘re-recalled’ in the US

US transportation body the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has issued a recall on almost 12,000 tyres. What makes this recall stand out from the crowd is that the tyres in question were previously recalled – and then resold.

Kumho Tire U.S.A. is recalling 11,922 size 225/45R17 Solus KH25 passenger car tyres, which were produced in the weeks 3411 through to 2512 (21 August 2011 to 23 June 2012). All tyres associated with this recall relate to Kumho Tire’s initial recall for these tyres, covered by NHTSA recall 12T-020. The affected, recalled tyres were punctured with three drill holes through the tread surface – a measure intended to render them unusable – and sent to Liberty Tire Recycling, LLC for disposal. 

Instead of correctly disposing of these tyres, Liberty sold them as “used tyres” to various tyre wholesalers and distributors in Texas, New York, North Carolina and Puerto Rico. The NHTSA states that, even if the three drill holes are repaired, the tyres “may not adhere to specific Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) standards for tyre repairs, which could result in rapid air loss while the vehicle is in use and result in a tyre failure that could cause a crash.”