Canadian government investigates recalled tires

July 5, 2007

Transport Canada, Canada's Federal Department of Transportation, has initiated an investigation into the defective Chinese-made tires that Foreign Tire Sales Inc. (FTS) plans to recall later this month.

FTS intends to recall up to 450,000 light truck radials it sourced from Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co. Ltd. Hangzhou manufactured the tires between mid-2002 and mid-2006 under the names Westlake, Compass and YKS.

"We are gathering data to determine which companies have imported these tires into Canada," say Transport Canada officials.

"We have obtained samples of new tires for conducting compliance testing on them."

Transport Canada says it has not received a notice of defect from any importer. The agency "monitors recalls issued in the United States and other countries.... but we will make an independent assessment to determine if the tires sold in Canada contain a safety-related defect that requires a notice.

"Transport Canada does not order recalls, but if our evidence clearly shows that a safety-related defect exists and the company (in question) refuses to issue a Notice of Defect, we can refer the matter to the Department of Justice for a prosecution."