Illegal Gladiator LT and ST tires fail customs

July 8, 2014

American Pacific Industries Inc. (API), the exclusive distributor of Gladiator tires globally, is recalling 761 Gladiator brand LT and trailer tires (ST) of various sizes.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the tires did not pass quality control and are deemed to be unsafe for road service.

"These were contraband tires shipped to the U.S. illegally," says Jeff Kreitzman, CEO of API. "They never cleared customs. They were scrap tires. We don't even know where they came from.

"As scrap tires, they were never supposed to be in service. But because it was a recall of sorts, and the Gladiator name was on the tire, the DOT required us to voluntarily recall the tires."

All the scrap tires were captured and quarantined at the U.S. border and will be destroyed.

For more information, the NHTSA campaign ID number is 14T005.