ATLANTA — Apollo Tyres (U.S.) Inc. is recalling a limited number of Vredestein Hitrac, Quatrac and Quatrac Pro+ tires due to a condition that could cause a tread separation, according to the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration (NHTSA).
The recall covers 194 tires produced at Apollo's plant in Gyöngyöshalász, Hungary, during the week of March 3-9, NHTSA documents show.
A contaminated compound may cause the steel belts to separate, the NHSTA said, and belt separation can lead to loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The affected products carry the DOT sidewall code starting with 023 and ending in 0924.
Specifically, the tires and sizes being recalled are:
• Hitrac — 215/55R17;
• Quatrac — 215/60R16;
• Quatrac Pro+ — 215/50R18 and 235/45R10; and
• Quatrac XL — 205/60R16.
In a statement to Tire Business, Apollo said it filed the voluntary recall on May 22.
"We are informing all our dealers who have purchased these tires of the recall," Apollo said. "Furthermore, we are contacting consumers who may have tires fitted to their vehicle that fall within the scope of the 194 tires, requesting them to go back to the dealer where they purchased the tires from, for the required bar code verification of these tires produced during the week of 0924 at our Hungary manufacturing facility, and if necessitated, the exchange of the tires.
"All costs associated to the inspection, exchange and collection of the affected tires from our dealer locations and consumer vehicles will be covered by Apollo Tires (US) Inc.," the company said.
"We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience"
Letters were expected to be mailed to tire owners in May. For questions, consumers can contact Apollo Tyres customer service at 1-877-2340-867 or [email protected].