The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has demanded a recall on certain Chinese made tires. The company who imported the tires, Foreign Tire Sales, Inc. (FTS) has said that it will comply with the recall of 450,000 tires, but only until it runs out of money. According to news reports, FTS only has enough money to replace the bad tires on about 10 percent of the total number of tires in the recall – about 45,000. After that, the company will likely file for bankruptcy.

The Chinese manufacturer, the Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Company, has denied that the tires are defective. However, the NHTSA claims that the tires have an insufficient or missing gum strip that helps prevent steel belts inside the tire from separating or damaging the rubber. Most of the tires are used as spare tires. This latest recall is another in a long series of recalls from Chinese manufacturers who repeatedly deny responsibility for defective products.

No assistance available

FTS asked the NHTSA for financial assistance with the recall, however, the NHTSA said that they do not have the resources to do so – even if that means that the importer must go bankrupt. The issue has sparked a great deal of controversy and many say that the NHTSA waited too long to act and put hundreds of thousands of drivers at risk. CNN’s Lou Dobbs reported that four senators wrote to President Bush to force a recall and for the Chinese government to step up to the plate and take responsibility for the problem. In addition, Richard Blumenthal, the Attorney General of Connecticut, reported that he is contacting other state Attorney Generals to research the issue further.

According to the filing, the Hangzhou tires at issue were sold under at least four brand names Westlake, Compass, Telluride and YKS in these sizes: LT235/75R-15; LT225/75R-16; LT235/85R-16; LT245/75R-16; LT265/75R-16; and LT3X10.5-15.

The recall begins July 2nd. The company’s contact information is:

Foreign Tire Sales, Inc.
2204 Morris Avenue
Union, NJ 07083

If you were injured due to these defective tires, contact an attorney in your area whose practice focuses on this type of injury. To contact an attorney, click here.