NHTSA begins investigation of Hercules tires

WASHINGTON (April 8, 2015) — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has begun an equipment query into certain Hercules All Trac AT tires manufactured by Shandong Yongsheng Rubber Co. Ltd.

Opened March 10, the investigation was prompted by a Dec. 17, 2014, letter from Michael Cowen, an attorney with Cowen Law Group in Brownsville, Texas.

Mr. Cowen wrote NHTSA that the Hercules tires shared a common green designation with the 95,000 Capitol Precision Trac II tires recalled Oct. 20, 2014, by ITG Voma Corp. The Capitol Precision tires were also manufactured by Shandong Yongsheng, he said.

Cowen Law Group represents Krystal Cantu, a woman who lost her left arm in an Aug. 2, 2013, accident allegedly involving a Capitol Precision Trac II tire.

Hercules already recalled, in February 2013, tires manufactured by Shandong Yongsheng that bore the same design, according to Mr. Cowen.

In a March 12, 2015, letter to Hercules' attorneys, NHTSA said it was investigating allegations that the Hercules and Capitol tires sold by ITG Voma tires are substantially similar in design, construction and performance, and whether Hercules should recall all of its All Trac A/T tires.

NHTSA asked Hercules to answer several questions about the sale, distribution and construction of the tires, and how it determined which tires to recall in February 2013. The agency gave Hercules until May 7 to answer.

The investigation number is EQ15-001.