In response to Bridgestone Corp.’s Nov. 7, 2013, voluntary safety recall of various truck and bus tires announced in Japan, Bridgestone Americas (BSA) is recalling approximately 2,600 units which were produced at Bridgestone’s plant in Tochigi, Japan, and sold in Guam, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America.
(The company recently announced a recall in Japan of 1.2 million truck and bus tires produced at the plant between January 2012 and August 2013.)
This action is being taken out of an abundance of caution, as statistically it is estimated that only one unit out of the approximate 2,600 imported into the Americas may have an abnormality that could result in a slow air leak characterized in the Japanese recall, the company says.
There have been no field complaints or adjustments in the Americas with respect to the subject abnormality. There also has not been any report of property damage, accidents, injuries, or deaths, BSA states.
The recall is attributed to a possible abnormality in the tire innerliner caused by intermittent irregularities in the manufacturing process at Bridgestone’s Tochigi plant following a production change, which could result in decreased adhesion levels at the splice in a small number of tires. In these instances, there is a possibility that decreased adhesion of the splice could lead to cracking and a slow air leak into the tire sidewall. An accumulation of air could result in a bulge and eventually, in a worst case, cause a slow air leak rendering the tire inoperable.
BSA and its relevant subsidiaries are communicating and working with regulatory agencies in countries across the Americas to recover subject units in accordance with local laws. BSA and its relevant subsidiaries are also communicating directly with customers, company owned stores, authorized dealers, and fleet customers to recover and replace any subject tires.
Owners of the tires involved in the recall are urged to contact their Bridgestone Americas or subsidiary representative, nearest dealer or company-owned service center to arrange verification and replacement.
See www.bridgestone-firestone.com for more information.
