Michelin, Goodyear tell NHTSA tires with non-compliant labels are "inconsequential" to safety

Feb. 5, 2003

Michelin North America Inc. (MNA) and Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. have determined that more than 10,000 Uniroyal and Goodyear brand tires made over the last three years fail to meet federal tire labeling requirments but believe the erroneous markings will have no impact on motor vehicle safety.

MNA says 11,262 of its P155/80R13 79S Uniroyal Tiger Paw AWP tires are non-compliant; of this total, no more than 3,796 have been delivered to end users, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

"The remaining tires have been isolated in Uniroyal warehouses and will be brought into compliance."

The Tiger Paws were manufactured between the fifth and 48th weeks of 2000 at the Uniroyal plant in Woodburn, Ind.

Goodyear has determined that approximately 2,400 out of more than 66,000 size P275/55R20 Eagle LC and P245/70R16 Wrangler SRA tires produced and shipped May 25, 2002, through June 16, 2002, do not meet federal labeling requirements.

"These tires were marked with the cord material identified as polyester when it was actually nylon," say NHTSA officials.

Goodyear considers this to be an isolated case.

Both tiremakers have petitioned NHTSA "for a determination that this non-compliance is inconsequential to motor vehicle safety."