Skip to main content
EVENT TRACKER
Keep track of rescheduled, canceled industry events with our COVID-affected event tracker - Powered by Snap Finance
Close
Sister Publication Links
  • Rubber & Plastics News
  • European Rubber Journal
tb-logo
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • OPINION
    • CORONAVIRUS
    • AUTO INDUSTRY
    • BUSINESS/FINANCIAL
    • COMMERCIAL TIRE
    • FACTORY FIXES
    • GOVERNMENT & LAW
    • INTERNATIONAL
    • MOTOR SPORTS
    • NEW PRODUCTS
    • RETAIL TIRES
    • SERVICE ZONE
    • SEMA/AAPEX
    • SMALL BUSINESS
    • TIRE MAKERS
    • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • Titan to offer free COVID-19 vaccines at Iowa facility
      Bridgestone hosts vaccination events for plant employees
      Cioffi: Will remote working be the new normal?
      Bridgestone Iowa plant navigates pandemic, demand
    • Conti adding dynamic driving simulator at German R&D center
      Yokohama gains OE fitments on BMW, Mercedes-AMG sport utilities
      SEMA picks site in Michigan for 2nd SEMA Garage
      Online retailer CARiD.com looks to triple size of tire/wheel installer network
    • Federal approved as 5th Formula Drift tire supplier
      Falken, Ohtsu tire prices rising May 1
      Telle Tire expands footprint with JBC Tire acquisition
      Video: Michelin looks to diversify for additional growth opportunities
    • Apollo lands: Tire maker brings commercial portfolio to N.A.
      Guizhou Tyre starts production at Vietnam plant
      Love's adds 6 Speedco servicing sites to its Travel Stop network
      Bridgestone hosts vaccination events for plant employees
    • New York chipping in $3M+ toward Sumitomo factory expansion
      SBA extends and expands COVID-19 loan program
      Stimulus spending should help tire industry
      U.S. agro-science firm gets $1M grant to research sunflower latex
    • Guizhou Tyre starts production at Vietnam plant
      Video: Michelin looks to diversify for additional growth opportunities
      Conti adding dynamic driving simulator at German R&D center
      Michelin strikes supply deals with new Canadian racing series
    • Federal approved as 5th Formula Drift tire supplier
      Maxxis offers discount to ChampCar competitors
      Michelin strikes supply deals with new Canadian racing series
      Bias-ply tires return to NASCAR Cup Series for Bristol dirt race
    • Bosch adds 22 aftermarket parts in Q1
      Snap-On introduces TreadReader handheld tire scanner
      Vogue Tyre introduces ‘biggest, boldest' red stripe tire
      Cooper adds Rugged Trek all-terrain to Discoverer LT/SUV tire line
    • Telle Tire expands footprint with JBC Tire acquisition
      Tire prices rising: Is it a sign of more to come?
      Bauer Built promotes pair to VP positions
      TECH Americas adds Haggerty to marketing team
    • Bosch adds 22 aftermarket parts in Q1
      Marinucci: Detailed instructions will save time
      Bartec introduces TPMS software updates
      Snap-On introduces TreadReader handheld tire scanner
    • SEMA picks site in Michigan for 2nd SEMA Garage
      SEMA touts expanded Las Vegas Convention Center ahead of 2021 expo
      TIA seeking nominations for Tire Industry Hall of Fame
      SEMA survey shows resilient auto aftermarket in 2020
    • SBA extends and expands COVID-19 loan program
      Stimulus spending should help tire industry
      Giti disputes report blasting tire maker for accepting PPP funds
      SEMA survey shows resilient auto aftermarket in 2020
    • Apollo lands: Tire maker brings commercial portfolio to N.A.
      Tire prices rising: Is it a sign of more to come?
      Titan to offer free COVID-19 vaccines at Iowa facility
      Vogue Tyre introduces ‘biggest, boldest' red stripe tire
    • Sponsored By Yokohama Tire Company
      7 questions to ask consumers when they need tires for a crossover SUV
      Sponsored By Yokohama Tire Company
      Stocking Tires for Crossover SUVs
      Sponsored By AppointmentPlus
      Three Important Lessons Learned for the Tire Business During a Pandemic
      Sponsored By Yokohama Tire Company
      7 questions to ask consumers when they need tires for a crossover SUV
  • SHOP FLOOR
    • BALANCING
    • DEMOUNTING
    • SAFETY
    • TIRE REPAIR
    • TPMS
    • TRAINING
    • VEHICLE LIFTING
    • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Video: Balancing Tire
      Choosing the right balancing equipment
      Safety tips for wheel balancing
      An introduction to wheel balancing
    • Video: Demounting
      Demounting Equipment
      Making rims ready for a tight seal
      Tire changer types, tips and trends
    • Video: Safety
      Making friends with OSHA
      Ergonomics on the shop floor
      Customers
    • Video: Tire Repair
      Tire repair: Shining a light on visual inspections
      Staying safe when repairing a tire
      Essential tools, materials and equipment for tire repair
    • Video: TPMS Service
      Decoding sensor data for TPMS diagnosis
      Replacement TPMS sensor overview
      The life-saving work of TPMS
    • Video: Training
      Advantages of apprentice program partnerships
      Options and resources for CE tech training
      Internship ideas to attract tech talent
    • Video:Vehicle Lifting
      All types of lifts for all types of work
      Tips and recommendations for lifting safety
      The gravity of proper lift points
    • Video: Wheel Torque
      Using torque sticks to speed service times
      The danger of too much, too little torque
      The importance of torque specifications
  • Multimedia
    • VIDEOS
    • PHOTOS
    • PODCASTS
  • Events
    • ASK THE EXPERT
    • LIVESTREAMS
    • WEBINARS
    • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
  • Data
    • DATA STORE
  • Resources
    • DIRECTORY
    • CLASSIFIEDS
  • ADVERTISE
  • DIGITAL EDITION
  • Awards
    • Tire Dealer Humanitarian Award
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
December 28, 2000 01:00 AM

BFS says no single factor led to tread separations

Chris Collins, Tire Business staff
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Dec. 28, 2000)—An internal probe by experts at Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. has concluded there was no single factor that caused the abnormal rate of tread separations in P235/75R15 Firestone Radial ATX, ATX II and Wilderness AT tires that led BFS to voluntarily recall 6.5 million of them.

    "Instead, the company has concluded that a combination of design factors, external factors such as low inflation pressure and certain manufacturing factors at the company´s Decatur, Ill., plant—in extreme cases and working together—have contributed to the phenomenon," according to the report, issued on Dec. 19.

    About 70 percent of the recalled tires were original equipment on Ford Motor Co.´s Explorer sport-utility vehicle and other light trucks.

    The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it is investigating hundreds of complaints of tread separations, including allegations of 148 deaths and hundreds of injuries.

    BFS and Ford also are defendants in dozens of product liability lawsuits resulting from crashes involving Ford Explorers shod with Firestone tires.

    In the report, BFS said it examined 2,500 recalled tires and cut apart 850 of them for further analysis.

    Company tire inspectors at Firestone technical and research facilities in Akron examined the recalled tires at 40 different "measurement points" and performed "real world field tests" on them at the BFS technical proving grounds in Fort Stockton, Texas, the report stated.

    The investigation focused on the physical properties of the tires´ materials, manufacturing processes and vehicle and external conditions that can affect tire performance.

    The report said the increased rate of tread separations was traceable to the following factors:

    *A shoulder pocket design problem on ATX tires that could lead to cracking at the shoulder pocket bottom and "become the starting point of a failure;´´

    *Inadequate inflation pressure leading to high internal tire temperatures and decreasing the adhesion level between the belts;

    *Rubber processing techniques unique to the company´s Decatur plant that resulted in a lower level of belt adhesion than in tires of the same size and lines manufactured in other BFS plants; and

    *Ford Motor Co.´s recommended air pressure for the Ford Explorer leading to "a decreased margin of safety for tire performance."

    The BFS report also noted that punctures, impact damage and improper repairs also contributed to tread separations and were observed in 35 percent of the tires returned for tread separation claims.

    At the time of the recall, BFS recommended that drivers increase the air pressure of Firestone P235/75R15 tires on Ford Explorers to 30 psi from Ford´s recommended 26 psi. BFS said ATX and ATX II tires no longer are being produced and the Wilderness AT was introduced with a new tread design for last year´s redesigned Ford Explorer.

    The report said rubber skim stock, used to coat the tire´s steel cords, was mixed differently at Decatur than at other BFS plants. It contained "more inorganic material" which—although it was within Firestone specifications—made Decatur-produced skim stock weaker than that produced at other plants.

    BFS said it is changing the skim stock production process at Decatur to make it consistent with other plants.

    The report team used two outside laboratories to produce independent results and also consulted with experts from Ford, BFS said.

    "I can say that I am satisfied that our root cause team has conducted an exhaustive and comprehensive study and has examined all factors that could have caused the tire problems," said John Lampe, BFS president, chairman and CEO, in a statement.

    Tread separations were not the exclusive cause of the serious accidents, Mr. Lampe added, and the report acknowledged that the investigation did not deal with "why a vehicle may roll over in the event of a tire failure."

    Mr. Lampe said the report confirms "that our recall, initiated in August, was more than adequate to protect the public,"

    In a statement also issued Dec. 19, Ford said: "Our ongoing statistical analysis and test data seem in agreement with many of the preliminary conclusions of Bridgestone/Firestone, as we understand them."

    However, the auto maker took issue with BFS´ contention that the weight of the Explorer—which Ford noted was well within the weight range for the tires—was one cause of the problems.

    "Our experience with more than 2.9 million competitive make tires that performed almost flawlessly in the field," Ford said, "leads us to conclude that the vehicle is not a significant contributor to tread separation."

    Alex Barnett, an attorney for the Washington, D.C.-based law firm Cohen, Milstein, Hausfeld and Toll P.L.L.C., said the tire industry should be well aware that drivers don´t check their air pressure frequently enough, and "there should be a greater margin of safety" built into tires.

    Cohen Milstein is involved in the consolidated legal proceedings against BFS and Ford in a court in Indianapolis.

    "They (BFS) appear to be laying the blame at the feet of consumers for not maintaining tires properly," Mr. Barnett said. "The motoring public should be leery of these types of reports issued by companies."

    Mr. Barnett said the report didn´t "represent the full extent of the problem." There also needs to be a more extensive recall and more independent testing, he said.

    Sanjay Govindjee, a professor of engineering at the University of California at Berkeley who was hired by BFS to analyze the tread separation problem, was scheduled to issue his report by Jan 1.

    On Dec. 19, BFS also announced a series of actions based on recommendations of a specially appointed review team consisting of company technical, engineering and safety specialists.

    Beginning in January, a quality subcommittee composed of the top managers from the sales technical service and the quality assurance departments will meet regularly and report directly to Mr. Lampe, the company said.

    The group will gather, review and analyze market quality data. Meanwhile, BFS will establish an enhanced safety "early warning" system derived from internal adjustment and claims data and public data from NHTSA.

    BFS also will set up a system to facilitate quick detection of anomalies in each type of data and establish a quick response structure.

    BFS said it is tracking original equipment fitments for exported vehicles and is creating a global quality information network to develop a system for early problem detection.

    Tire development specialists also are establishing global standards for production processes and systems, so that enhancements and improvements can be implemented and maintained throughout the Bridgestone Group worldwide, BFS said.

    The company said it is implementing changes in a number of aspects of tire construction and design, giving top priority to sport-utility vehicle and light-truck tires, which are subject to heavy loads and increasing use at higher speeds.

    BFS said it will continue to upgrade production facilities and processes, and has earmarked approximately $50 million in additional capital outlays in 2001 for further quality improvements and changes in product specifications.

    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Tire Business would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor Don Detore at [email protected].

    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Newsletter Center

    Staying current is easy with Tire Business delivered straight to your inbox.

    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Subscribe to Tire Business

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • Facebook
    • LinkedIn
    • Twitter
    • RSS

    Our Mission

    Tire Business is an award-winning publication dedicated to providing the latest news, data and insights into the tire and automotive service industries.

    tb-logo
    Reader Services
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Site Map
    • Industry Sites
    • Order Reprints
    • Customer Service: 877-320-1716
    Partner Sites
    • Rubber & Plastics News
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Automotive News
    • Plastics News
    • Plastics News China
    • Urethanes Technology
    RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Media Guide
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Classified Rates
    • Digital Edition
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    Copyright © 1996-2021. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • OPINION
      • CORONAVIRUS
      • AUTO INDUSTRY
      • BUSINESS/FINANCIAL
      • COMMERCIAL TIRE
      • FACTORY FIXES
      • GOVERNMENT & LAW
      • INTERNATIONAL
      • MOTOR SPORTS
      • NEW PRODUCTS
      • RETAIL TIRES
      • SERVICE ZONE
      • SEMA/AAPEX
      • SMALL BUSINESS
      • TIRE MAKERS
      • SPONSORED CONTENT
    • SHOP FLOOR
      • BALANCING
      • DEMOUNTING
      • SAFETY
      • TIRE REPAIR
      • TPMS
      • TRAINING
      • VEHICLE LIFTING
      • WHEEL TORQUE
    • Multimedia
      • VIDEOS
      • PHOTOS
      • PODCASTS
    • Events
      • ASK THE EXPERT
      • LIVESTREAMS
      • WEBINARS
      • SEMA LIVESTREAMS
    • Data
      • DATA STORE
    • Resources
      • DIRECTORY
      • CLASSIFIEDS
    • ADVERTISE
    • DIGITAL EDITION
    • Awards
      • Tire Dealer Humanitarian Award