Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd. used an incorrect rubber compound during three separate production runs, and as a result the tire maker is recalling the Falken-, Dunlop- and Goodyear-brand tires it made with that compound. More than half of the tires were sold to an original equipment manufacturer.
Here’s a rundown of the tires affected:
| Tire | Size |
| Falken Ziex CT50 A/S | P225/50R20 104V |
| Dunlop SP Sport 5000 | 215/45R18 89W |
| Goodyear Eagle LS2 | P215/50R17 90V |
Tires sold to OE vs into U.S. replacement market
| Tire | OE | Replacement |
| Falken | 1,268 | 3 |
| Dunlop | 0 | 1,011 |
| Goodyear | 0 | 4 |
A total of 2,286 of the tires were imported into the U.S., Sumitomo said.
The rubber compound was used to produce a prototype tire and was accidently mixed and extruded with the production compound for these tires. Drivers may experience vibration or a flapping noise during operation, or they might observe partial rubber peel off from the tread or irregular tread wear.
Sumitomo will notify owners and dealers of the remaining tires, and dealers will replace the tires free of charge. The OE Falken tires were sold to Mazda Motor Corp.
The recall is expected to begin Dec. 6, 2019. Owners may contact Sumitomo customer service at 1-800-845-8378.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
