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Bridgestone/Firestone to Retain Independent Tire Expert

28 August 2000

Bridgestone/Firestone to Retain Independent Tire Expert to Participate in Review Surrounding Recalled Tires

    NASHVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 25 Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
announced today that it will retain a leading expert or experts to conduct an
independent analysis of incidents involving tires affected by a nationwide
voluntary, safety recall.  Bridgestone/Firestone is looking to experts in the
tire industry, manufacturing and academia to conduct a full and complete
review of the situation regarding the recalled tires and Bridgestone/Firestone
processes, including manufacturing.
    "We are taking this step because we are committed to finding out what, if
any, problems may have led to the incidents involving the affected tires,"
said John Lampe, Executive Vice President, Bridgestone/Firestone.  "No one is
more interested in getting these answers than the people of
Bridgestone/Firestone.  This is an extremely complex situation, and though we
have not yet determined a root cause or causes, we continue to have a team of
engineers and experts working around the clock on this issue.  We will rely on
an independent expert to examine and verify our own internal investigation
process."
    On August 9, Bridgestone/Firestone initiated a voluntary, safety recall
that included Wilderness AT tires, size P235/75R15, manufactured at
Bridgestone/Firestone's Decatur, Illinois plant, and all ATX and ATX II tires,
size P235/75R15.  Bridgestone/Firestone initiated the safety recall based on
data that showed the number of incidents involving the recalled tires is
higher than with other similar tires.  As of Wednesday, approximately
850,000 of the affected tires have already been replaced.
    "We are doing everything we can to replace these tires and find any root
cause as quickly as possible," said Lampe.  "Firestone engineers will work
with an independent expert during this fact-finding process."