Goodyear recalls up to 173,237 G159 tyres

On 2 June 2022, Goodyear recalled up 173,237 model G159 tyres in the USA. The recall has been issued because “some size 275/70R 22.5 G159 tyres installed on motorhomes experienced tread separations”. However, this was not due to tyre manufacturing problems, but rather resulted “from the motorhome manufacturer inadequately specifying reserve loads, as well as overloading and underinflation common to the motorhome application”, according to official documents. The G159 is the subject of long-running legal action in the United States.

While this is a US-centric story about tyres mainly made in the US for use in America, there is a UK dimension too. The affected tyres were made between 1 February 1996 and 31 January 2003 and are size 275/70 R22.5. Such is the historic nature of the recall, some of the affected tyres bear the NB factory designation within their DOT code, which relates to the Wolverhampton factory that closed its retreading and mixing operations in 2015 and its new tyre production operations in 2006.

NHTSA opened a preliminary evaluation on the subject on 28 December 2017. After a series of conversations and meetings between Goodyear and NHTSA, NHTSA requested that Goodyear conduct a safety recall in a 22 February 2022 letter. Goodyear initially declined in a response on 8 March 2022, but has since agreed in order to “address concerns that some of these tyres may still be in the marketplace or in use”.

As a result, in what may be described as to be a very belt-and-braces approach, Goodyear is offering to exchange or replace any relevant presented tyre: “Any person that presents a recreational vehicle containing a Subject Tire will receive a 275/70R22.5 Goodyear G670 tyre free of charge. Goodyear will cover the cost of dismounting and disposing of the Subject Tire and mounting and balancing the new G670 tyre. Additionally, any person presenting a Subject Tire on a recreational vehicle will be provided with a voucher in the amount of $60 to cover the cost of having the vehicle professionally weighed. Any person who owns a Subject Tire not installed on a recreational vehicle can exchange it for $500.”