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Statement by Gary Crigger
August 9, 2000
Good morning. I am
Gary Crigger, executive vice president of Bridgestone/Firestone,
Inc. Let me apologize for the lack of information over the past
few days. Bridgestone/Firestone has been working around the clock
with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
and Ford to understand the issues at hand and determine the best
path forward. Again, we apologize to our customers, the media
and the general public for any confusion that has been created.
First let me say that,
at Bridgestone/Firestone, nothing is more important to us than
the safety of our customers. That is why reports of vehicle accidents
involving our tires are very disturbing.
Today, in the interest
of safety and to help strengthen customer confidence, Bridgestone/Firestone
is taking the extraordinary step of announcing a voluntary recall
of all P235 75 R15 Firestone radial ATX and ATX
II tires produced in North America, including Mexico.
To ensure that we completely
address our customer concerns, we are taking the additional step
of voluntarily recalling all Firestone Wilderness AT tires in
the P235 75 R15 size produced specifically in our Decatur, Il.,
plant (marked with the Dept. of Transportation(DOT) code beginning
with the letters “VD”.)
For those of you not
familiar with tire labeling, the P235 75 R15 designation refers
to the tire size. Radial ATX, ATX II and Wilderness AT are product
brand names.
We are not limiting
this recall. So, no matter how old the tires, no matter how many
miles they have on them, we will replace them with new tires at
no charge.
Throughout this process,
we have been working very closely with Ford Motor Company and
NHTSA to determine the cause of the accidents involving vehicles
with these tires. We have not determined what, if any problem
there may be with the design and manufacturing of these tires.
And, although accidents involving these tires are rare in comparison
to the millions of these tires produced, our review of the data
suggests three things:
1.The number of reported
incidents with the radial ATX and ATX II of the P235 75 R15 size
is higher than with other sizes in this line;
2.The Decatur, Ill.,
plant is over-represented in the accident claims and reports compared
with other plants;
3.The vast majority
of the incidents are in the southern-most states of Arizona, California,
Florida and Texas, which suggests there may be a direct correlation
between heat and tire performance.
In addition, the abundance
of concern surrounding the tires in question clearly indicates
the need for this action.
There have been approximately
14.4 million of these particular tires produced. We estimate
that the number of tires still in use and involved in the recall
is 6.5 million tires including:
- Approximately 3.8
million radial ATX and radial ATX II tires of the P235 75 R15
size and;
- Approximately 2.7
million Wilderness AT tires of the P235 75 R15 size produced
specifically at the Decatur, Illinois plant.
Given the preponderance
of incidents in four Southern states and the limited supply of
replacement tires at this time, we will be undertaking a three
phase recall starting in Arizonia, California, Florida and Texas.
Phase II will include Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi,
Nevada, Oklahoma, and Tennessee. And, Phase III will include the
remaining states.
Supplies of existing
replacement products will be sent to the states as prioritized
by each phase. We are working now to maximize product availability
so that we can complete each phase as quickly as possible.CLARIFICATION
as of 8/16/00: Our
commitment is to replace all recalled tires as quickly as possible.
We are increasing US production of replacement tires and ramping
up supplies from our global network. Meanwhile, we are asking
all of our stores and retailers in every state to respond immediately
to their customers, replacing the recalled tires with competitors'
tires, if necessary.
In addition, we are
contacting the regulatory authorities in Mexico and Canada.
Here is what owners
of the P235 75 R15 size tires in the ATX, ATX II and Wilderness
AT tires produced at the Decatur plant need to do:
- If you have a recalled tire you will
receive a letter from the company, notifying you of the recall
and the steps you need to take.
- If you have a recalled tire, call your
local Firestone retailer to set-up an appointment for an exchange.
The recalled tire(s) will be replaced with brand new wilderness
at or other Bridgestone/Firestone tires. If necessary, the
company will obtain other sources of supply. If you don’t
know where the local Firestone retailer is located, call our
toll-free customer service number for instructions.
- We urge all vehicle
owners using ATX and Wilderness tires to keep your tires inflated
at the pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. For
owners of Ford Explorers or Mercury Mountaineers, with P235
75 R15 ATX and Wilderness AT tires on your vehicles, Ford recommends
these tires be maintained at a minimum of 26 psi. At the request
of Firestone, Ford has evaluated the performance of these tires
at 30 psi and has determined that the vehicles maintain good
performance characteristics at this higher pressure. Ford recommends
a tire pressure range of 26-30 psi. Firestone recommends a
tire pressure of 30 psi.
Clearly, we are very concerned anytime
there is an accident involving a vehicle with our tires. That
is why we are taking this situation so seriously. Most of the
incidents we have reviewed indicate improper maintenance or damage
to the tires, which is often caused by under-inflation of the
tires.
Under-inflated operation
of any tire generates excessive heat, which can lead to tire failure.
We believe the higher inflation level that we are recommending
will enhance the performance and lifespan of these tires.
In the interest of
promoting greater tire safety, we are asking all drivers to be
as conscientious about the maintenance of their tires as any other
part of the vehicles. We urge anyone who would like to have additional
assurance about the quality of their tires, to visit their local,
company-owned Firestone Tire and Service Center for a free inspection.
At this point, on behalf
of the company, I would like to extend our sympathies to the families
who have been involved in these accidents.
Again, we are taking
this extraordinary step with the agreement and support of ford,
after fully advising NHTSA, to ensure public confidence and safety.
Thank you!
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