WASHINGTON — Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations L.L.C. is recalling 203 Bridgestone V-Steel Snow Wedge and V-Steel Highway Service tires designed for use on mobile cranes that were shipped to the U.S. in error and thus lack the proper sidewall safety information.
The affected tires, both manufactured at the Hofu plant in Japan, are the V-Steel Highway Service, size 445/95R25, manufactured between Nov. 29, 2018 and June 9, 2019; and the V-Steel Snow Wedge, size 385/95R25, manufactured between Nov. 5, 2018 and Dec. 11, 2018. The tires shipped in error to the U.S., Bridgestone told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The subject tires do not include the Department of Transportation factory identification code, tire identification number, maximum speed, maximum load and corresponding inflation pressure, and ply number/composition markings on the tire sidewall, and thus fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 119.
BATO told NHTSA it will compile a list of customers who purchased the subject tires by working with dealers to trace customer purchases by a unique serial identification number assigned to each tire. All known customers, distributors and dealers will receive notification of the recall, instructions on how to identify the subject tires, information regarding the tire removal from service, and instructions on tire return and disposal.
Bridgestone said it will replace the subject tires with comparable Bridgestone brand tires or other suitable replacement at no charge to the customer.
Those who suspect they might be in possession of one of the subject tires may contact BATO customer service at 800-847-3272, or contact the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236.