WASHINGTON — Toyo Tire Holdings of Americas Inc. is recalling nearly 14,200 Extensa passenger and Open Country SUV tires due to potential defects that could result in the tread or tire sidewall detaching.
In a statement provided to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Toyo said the recall followed "detailed analysis" of production records for all tires produced at its factory in Indija, Serbia, over the past year.
The analysis, Toyo said, identified 101 instances where a green tire was cured in the wrong mold. Overall, Toyo said there were 20 models of suspect tires manufactured during different times of the year, between October 2022 and May 2023, totaling 14,194 tires.
The tires being recalled are marked with the Serbian plant's DOT identification code of 05C and followed by various date codes covering the production weeks over the seven-month period.
"A small number of green tires are suspected of having been cured into the wrong mold, potentially resulting in incorrect component dimensions, compounds and cord tension," Toyo added.
If the condition remains undetected, Toyo stated, "we cannot rule out the possibility that, due to this production error, sections of the tread or sidewall may become detached." This, it added, "could lead to a loss of inflation pressure, and an increased risk of a vehicle crash."
Elaborating on the incident, Toyo said there was a period of time when the curing presses were being loaded manually at the plant. At that stage, the factory control software did not prohibit press function if an incorrect green tire barcode was scanned.
This allowed a small number of incorrectly loaded tires to proceed through the curing process undetected, Toyo said, noting that software to prevent this from occurring had since been implemented.
Production at the plant in began in August 2022, with output initially focused "preferentially" on supplying the U.S. market.
Owners who registered their tires will be notified directly by mail. For those owners who did not register their tires, Toyo will work with independent dealers or distributors to obtain owner information, where available.
Tires identified as among those being recalled will be replaced at no cost, parts and labor through June 15, 2024. Dealers performing the replacement of recalled tires will be notified of their responsibilities in accordance with federal law.
Owners may contact Toyo's customer service at 800-442-8696 or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
The specific tires and sizes being recalled are:
- Extensa A/S II in sizes 235/55R18 100H; 205/55R16 91H; 225/65R17 102H; 275/65R18 116T;
- Open Country A/T III in sizes 265/70R17 115T; 275/55R20 117T; 275/60R20 115T; 285/55R20 114T ; 255/70R18 113T; 265/70R16 111T; 235/60R18 107T.
- Open Country H/T II in sizes 265/70R18 116T; 215/70R16 100H; 265/70R16 112T; 275/65R18 116T ; 275/55R20 117H; 265/70R17 115T; 225/65R17 102H,
- Open Country Q/T in sizes 235/60R18 107V and 255/50R20 109V.
Each size represents a different production run, so it's necessary to check the date code as well.
