Bridgestone recalling 2,900 Firestone tires

WASHINGTON (May 6, 2016) — Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO) is recalling approximately 2,900 Firestone FR710 and Firestone Champion Fuel Fighter replacement passenger tires produced in late March/early April because of possible tread-separation issues in a small percentage of those tires.

Bridgestone said it has identified 32 tires it suspects of having a manufacturing defect, “but in an abundance of caution, BATO has initiated this voluntary recall of approximately 2,900 tires.”

Bridgestone said the tires — FR 710 in size 205/65R16 and Champion Fuel Fighter in sizes 205/65R15 and 205/70R15 — may have been manufactured with inconsistent rubber coverage over the steel plies, possibly causing tread separations.

The tires were produced at Bridgestone's plant in Wilson, N.C., between March 27 and April 9.

The DOT serial number for the FR710 tires is W2 3P 711 1316 to 1416; the DOT numbers for the Fuel Fighters are W2UVCF1 1316 to 1416 and W2YTCF1 1316 to 1416, Bridgestone said.

Bridgestone said it will replace the defective tires free of charge with an FR710 or Champion Fuel Fighter tire of the same size from another production week, or another “suitable” Bridgestone brand or Firestone brand tire in the event the exact replacement tires were unavailable.

Bridgestone Americas revived the Champion name only recently to use with a line of fuel-efficient tires designed for cars and minivans. The Champion name was launched originally in the 1930s by Firestone Tire & Rubber Co.