Retailers Replaced More than 200,000 Recalled
Tires in First Five Working Days;
Recall Will Be Completed Ahead of Schedule
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 16, 2000
– Five working days into its voluntary
tire recall, Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc., already has replaced
more than 200,000 tires for customers across the United States,
is doubling its production of replacement tires and has shortened
its schedule for completing the recall.
“We are doing everything we can
to replace the recalled tires as fast as possible, and it’s
clear that we are making progress in our efforts to satisfy
our customers and assure their safety,” said Christine
Karbowiak, vice president of public affairs, Bridgestone Firestone,
Inc. “The number of tires we’ve already replaced
demonstrates our commitment to our customers."
Based on the swift acceleration of production
and responsiveness of retailers, Karbowiak said the company
should complete the recall sometime next spring, instead of
next summer as previously projected.
On August 9, Bridgestone/Firestone voluntarily
recalled all Firestone P235/75R15 Radial ATX and Radial ATX
II tires made in North America, and P235/75R15 Wilderness AT
tires made at the Decatur, Ill., plant.
Bridgestone/Firestone's U.S. plants are
doubling the number of tire molds and already are producing
about 7,000 more tires a day than they were a week ago. In
addition, the company is increasing imports and its retailers
are purchasing competitors' tires to augment their supply.
Customers can go to get their tires replaced
at any of more than 1,500 authorized Bridgestone/Firestone-owned
stores and service centers, 8,500 authorized Bridgestone/Firestone
dealer locations and 2,900 Ford/Lincoln Mercury dealers. This
amounts to nearly 13,000 places around the country at which
customers can be helped.
"We are very pleased to pass the
200,000 tire mark in the first five days, and we are continuing
to increase production and imports so even more tires can be
delivered to our retailers," said Karbowiak. "This
is just the beginning, but it is a very good beginning to this
recall."
