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Consumers Turn to Internet for Information as Replacement Effort Accelerates

23 August 2000

Consumers Turn to Internet for Information as Replacement Effort Accelerates

    NASHVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 23 Another estimated 100,000
recalled tires were replaced Monday and Tuesday, bringing the total to about
660,000 as the first air shipment of replacement tires arrives today from
Bridgestone Corporation manufacturing plants in Japan.  The speed of the
recall continues to accelerate with Bridgestone/Firestone and other tire
makers ramping up production of replacement tires and consumers turning to the
Internet for retail locations, reimbursement forms and lists of approved
replacement tires.
    Bridgestone/Firestone's Web sites -- http://www.firestone.com and
http://www.firestonetire.com -- have hosted up to 100 times the normal number of
visitors who are selecting information from the Voluntary Safety Recall
Information Center.  The forms for getting reimbursed for replacement tires
purchased at tire dealers other than Firestone Tire and Service Centers and
authorized Bridgestone/Firestone retailers can be downloaded from the Center.
Ford Motor Company's Web site (http://www.ford.com) features the list of approved
replacement tires manufactured by Bridgestone/Firestone and other major tire
manufacturers.  Competitive tire makers, such as Goodyear and Michelin,
feature information about the recall on their Web sites.
    "The more information consumers have, the quicker we will complete this
recall so that our customers can be assured of their safety," said Christine
Karbowiak, vice president of public affairs for Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
"The Internet's ability to share information quickly with millions of
consumers is a real plus in this recall effort."
    Customer wait times on the company's Web sites have steadily improved,
with consumers currently waiting less than 4 seconds for information.
    The first air shipment of new replacement tires from Japan left earlier
today on a Thai Airways flight from Japan and at least 10 more flights are
planned before next Monday.  These shipments will continue nearly every day as
long as needed to assist consumers involved with the recall.
    On August 9, Bridgestone/Firestone issued a voluntary safety recall of 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.