Goodyear to recall 173,000 tires after pressure from U.S. regulators

WASHINGTON, June 7 (Reuters) – Goodyear (GT.O) mentioned on Tuesday it might recall 173,000 G159 tires used on leisure autos as a result of the tread could separate and after U.S. auto security regulators requested the producer to exchange them.

The Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) opened a preliminary investigation in 2017 to evaluation allegations raised in a lawsuit that some tires had defects inflicting motor house crashes leading to deaths and accidents.

NHTSA in February requested Goodyear to recall the tires and Goodyear in March had initially declined the request, the manufacturer said in a filing.

Goodyear mentioned in its submitting it had now agreed to the recall “to handle issues that a few of these tires should still be within the market or in use.”

In a press release Tuesday, Goodyear argued “there is no such thing as a security defect” within the recalled tires, and mentioned few if any stay on the street. Goodyear mentioned it might recall the tires, which have been final produced in 2003, “to handle dangers proven to happen when the tire is utilized in an underinflated or overloaded situation” on motor properties.

NHTSA urged owners to make sure recalled tires will not be getting used. The company added that whereas the tires have been not being produced, NHTSA believes “that as a result of distinctive circumstances of leisure automobile use there should still be topic tires on the street in the present day.”

NHTSA mentioned it has obtained 10 shopper complaints alleging failures of Goodyear G159 tires on motor properties, with two complaints allege a crash. Goodyear individually reported 9 claims alleging one loss of life and 13 accidents.

NHTSA mentioned amongst many issues, some claims contend the Goodyear G159 tires have been allegedly not designed for prolonged use at freeway speeds as could be skilled throughout motor house operation.

Goodyear mentioned sellers will substitute tires put in on leisure autos and supply a $60 voucher for the price of professionally weighing the RV. Goodyear will provide a $500 refund for tires not put in on a automobile.

The recall applies to G159 tires dimension 275/70R22.5.

Reporting by David Shepardson; Modifying by Andrew Heavens and Nick Zieminski

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