More Firestones Being Probed

Company cites “limited resources” for reporting on Steeltex R4S and Steeltex AT.

WASHINGTON--As the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opens a “preliminary evaluation” of Bridgestone/Firestone Steeltex R4S and Steeltex AT light truck tires, a statement issued by Firestone executives citing “limited resources” suggests that NHTSA may have to wait for the information it desires.

“We have been and will continue to work diligently to fulfill these inquiries in a timely and responsive manner with limited staff and limited resources,” says the statement, which makes no mention of freeing-up additional company funds to speed along the investigation. It does note that Firestone “has, and will continue to have, a policy of being open and responsive to NHTSA as well as other government representatives and agencies.”

Firestone had long insisted that tire failures involving its previously recalled tire models were caused soley by improper care by consumers. It now concedes some of the tires were faulty.

The tires under investigation have not been recalled. Firestone’s latest statement, while not addressing the fitness of the tires, notes that “a NHTSA PE is not a finding of a defect but rather is a process to determine the facts surrounding complaints that have been filed with NHTSA.”

NHTSA has received close to 170 complaints about the Steeltex R4S and A/T light truck tires now under scrutiny. Two people have reportedly been killed and about 12 injured in a number of crashes.

The wrecks happened at highway speeds and reportedly involved “a blowout, tread separation or other major failure,” according to NHTSA.

The tires are original equipment on Ford F250 and F350 pickups, the Ford Excursion, General Motors’ Suburban model and the commercial GM G Van.

Ford said it is cooperating with the investigation. The tires are used on all 75,760 Excursions and on some 40 percent of the F-series trucks and Econoline vans made by Ford.

The R4S is a mud and snow tire; the A/T is an all-terrain tire with an aggressive tread. Both models are available in 15-, 16- and 16.5-inch sizes.

NHTSA has seen an increase in complaints about all tires since the Firestone recall was announced in early August.

An anomynous NHTSA official told the Associated Press that “obviously, there’s certainly a heightened sense of awareness about tire problems, and we’ve seen an increase of complaints across the board. However, this increase is much more significant than we’ve gotten with any other brand.”

GM has said it has received no complaints about the Steeltex R4S and A/T light truck tires now under scrutiny.