GREENVILLE, S.C.-U.S. sales of the 80,000-mile-warranted Michelin XH4 all-season tire have passed the six-million mark within 30 months of its introduction-making it the most successful premium passenger tire in history, according to the company. Michelin North Americas said the XH4's advanced construction affords it ultra-long wear without sacrificing ride comfort and wet traction.
The company said that, in independent tests, the XH4 has equalled or exceeded the wet traction of Goodyear's Aquatred from 18,000 miles to tread wearout.
Designed by Michelin Americas Research and Development Corp. in Greenville, S.C., the XH4 is now produced in Michelin plants in the U.S., Canada and Europe in a total of 22 sizes.
BFS plant meets quality standard
NASHVILLE, Tenn.-Bridgestone/Firestone Inc.'s Warren County, Tenn., truck tire facility has become the first U.S. tire plant to be registered for the international ISO 9000 series of quality standards, the company said.
The ISO 9000 standard is a model for quality assurance that is rapidly being adopted by industry worldwide.
Wheel caracks prompt call
ROMULUS, Mich.-Hayes Wheels International Inc., which supplied steel wheels to various General Motors Corp. cars that are being recalled, said it will manufacture replacements for the cars.
GM has recalled for inspection 164,000 cars-1988-90 models of the Pontiac Grand Prix, Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme and Buick Regal and the 1990 Chevrolet Lumina-on which it said about 80 percent of the wheels must be replaced. Most of the cars have 14-inch wheels; some have 15-inch styled wheels.
Cracks brought on by metal fatigue could cause wheels to fall off the car, the automaker said, although the company added that there have been no reports of that happening.
Neither GM nor Hayes Wheels has said whether the supplier will pay all or part of the estimated $37 million the recall will cost.
Arvin selling valve maker
COLUMBUS, Ind.-Arvin Industries Inc. announced it is about to sell its Shrader Automotive business that makes tire valves and related products to an unnamed buyer for about $41 million. Yokohama Tire Corp. has received a Certificate of Achievement from Toyota Motor Manufacturing U.S.A. Inc. for performance quality and delivery during 1993. The tire maker ships products to Toyota through its Salem, Va., plant, which makes 70 percent of the consumer tires the company sells in the U.S.
Bridgestone/Firestone de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. is one of 171 General Motors Corp. supplier companies-out of 30,000-selected as a Worldwide Supplier of the year.
The award recognizes supplier companies that exceed specific performance standards in quality, service and price, GM said. The Mexico tire maker is a division of Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone/Firestone Inc.