Hello Everyone,
Evelyn Here,
Below is a consumer alert message from Bill McCollum, Attorney General for the State of Florida.
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Bill McCollum
Attorney General
News Release
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Date of release: August 2, 2007
McCollum Announces
Florida’s Participation in Multistate Tire Inquiry
Consumers are urged to check tire numbers for potentially dangerous recalled tires
TALLAHASSEE, FL – Attorney General Bill McCollum today joined several state Attorneys General in issuing a consumer advisory about potentially dangerous tires that were imported from China and sold from 2002 to 2006 for light trucks, sports utility vehicles (SUVs) and vans. More than 450,000 tires may not meet the minimum specifications provided to the tire manufacturer and therefore may be unsafe. The tires were distributed in the United States under the names Westlake, Compass and YKS.
“It is important to make the public aware of the potential danger to consumers due to the safety hazardscreated by inadequate tires,” Attorney General McCollum said. “We want to ensure that proper safety standards are in place when Floridians are on the road.”
The tires were made by Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co. Ltd. (HZ) and distributed by Foreign Tire Sales, Inc., a small tire distributor in New Jersey. Foreign Tires Sales recently filed a non-compliance report on certain tires with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Affected tires may lack a sufficient layer of rubber between their steel belts which could cause tire treads to separate, creating potential safety hazards on the road.
In the interest of public safety, the Attorneys General have asked tire dealers not to charge for the safety inspections for these tire brands. Consumers of these particular tires should not drive their vehicles for long distances on hot roads until the vehicles have been checked. If an inspection indicates that a vehicle has unsafe tires, the consumer should immediately contact Foreign Tire Sales, Inc., and report the problem. Because of the safety concerns, a multistate working group of Attorneys General has been created to investigate the issue. Further information can be obtained from FTS’s web site at http://www.foreigntire.com.
As part of general tire safety, Attorney General McCollum reminded Florida consumers to keep the following tips in mind:
- At least once a month and before every long trip, inspect tires for patterns of uneven wear that could damage tires. Check tire inflation pressure in accordance with manufacturer recommendations.
- Do not overload your vehicle. Excess weight can place extra stress on your tires. Check your tire placard or vehicle owner’s manual for the maximum amount of weight your vehicle can safely carry.
- Develop safe driving habits. Observe speed limits and avoid fast stops, starts and turns. Avoid contact with potholes, objects and curbs when driving or parking your vehicle.
- Keep your vehicle properly maintained. Rotate tires regularly, get wheels balanced and get a front-end alignment as necessary.
- Use the proper tires for your vehicle. Check the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations before replacing a tire with a different size and/or construction.
- Be aware of how the outside temperature affects your tires. Hot weather can be especially hard on tires, causing them to expand. As the outside temperature drops 10 degrees, tire pressure drops about one or two pounds per square inch.
- Have any tire problems checked out by professionals. If you find that one of your tires is losing pressure, take it to a tire expert for a complete internal inspection.
- Be careful of buying used tires. Check used tire numbers and do not buy any that are specified in this inquiry.
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Evelyn out
