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Defective Tire Recall AttorneyCharleston, West VirginiaA U.S. tire importer and distributor has requested that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for help in recalling nearly half a million Chinese-made light truck tires. This action arose as a result of a lawsuit filed for personal injury and death when these Chinese tires malfunctioned. Foreign Tire Sales (FTS) appealed to NHTSA in June for aid in recalling approximately 450,000 light truck tires sold under the names Westlake, Telluride, Compass and YKS after the company allegedly learned that the Chinese tire manufacturer, the Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Company (Hangzhou), had left a critical component out of the tire. Although estimates put the potential number of tires subject to recall at 450,000, that number could be much higher. FTS told NHTSA that Hangzhou has refused to specifically identify by Tire Identification Number (TIN), which tires are missing or were built with an insufficient gum strip - a feature that helps to keep the tire belts from separating. Add these tires to list of Chinese imports deemed dangerous to American consumers. They join tainted pet food, lead-coated children's toys and toxic toothpaste as dangerous products imported from China. The New York Times has reported that Chinese products now account for 60 percent of all product recalls today. As set forth in a report submitted to NHTSA, FTS suspected the tires had problems as far back as October 2005, when it noticed a spike in the number of tire warranty adjustments. However, Hangzhou officials assured FTS the tires were safe. The FTS initial concerns were confirmed after a May 2006 New Mexico ambulance crash caused by a blown tire prompted FTS to check the tire in question. Its examination revealed the Chinese manufacturer did not install the gum strip between the tire belts to prevent separation. As a direct result, in June 2006, FTS stopped buying tires from Hangzhou. The FTS report provided NHTSA with information on the history of the company's dealings with Hangzhou. FTS entered a contract with Hangzhou in 2000 to design and manufacture light truck tires, which FTS, a New Jersey company, would import and sell in the U.S. Hangzhou consulted with FTS engineers to make sure the tires would meet U.S. federal safety standards, and at a meeting in 2002, FTS reiterated to Hangzhou the importance of tire safety due to the fact that light truck tires had come under increased scrutiny in the U.S. and many such tires had been recalled. In order to increase tire endurance, strength and safety, FTS urged Hangzhou to incorporate nylon cap plies into its tire manufacturing process. The tires passed testing at first, but when warranty claims increased in 2005, FTS initiated its own quality control testing program. Upon visual inspection, it appeared that the gum strips in some tires were insufficient or missing, and such gum strips were an integral safety feature designed to maintain tire belt strength. After the New Mexico ambulance crash, FTS checked tires on other ambulances, and discovered insufficient or missing gum strips on tires made in 2004 and 2005. Hangzhou at last, in September 2006, admitted to FTS that it limited or left out gum strips in a number of tires sold to FTS, but then, in January 2006, it told FTS that it had reintroduced at least some gum stripping back into its tires. Beginning in March 2007, FTS performed further testing on Hangzhou tires and found the tires tended to have tread/belt separation at about 25,000 miles. The Chinese-made tires in question could pose an immediate danger. Although not a definitive list, you should be on the lookout for steel-belted radial light tires bearing the brand names Westlake, Telluride, Compass and YKS in the following sizes:
According to FTS, tires manufactured by Hangzhou were also sold by the following distributors:
If you or a loved one has had an accident in which a tire blew out, or have one or more of the tires listed above on one or more of your vehicles, you may have a claim. Located in Charleston, we represent clients throughout West Virginia, including Huntington, Parkersburg, Bluefield, Williamson, Morgantown, Fairmont, Martinsburg, Beckley and the entire state of West Virginia. Please complete the contact form below to the best of your ability. Located in Charleston, West Virginia, we represent clients in Huntington, Parkersburg, Wheeling, Morgantown, Beckley, Logan, Martinsburg, Clarksburg, Williamson, Lewisburg, Bluefield, Princeton, Elkins, Buckhannon, Fairmont, Pittsburgh PA, Columbus OH, Cincinnati OH, Dayton OH. |