Majority sold for use on SUVs and trucks…
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A New Jersey importer has been ordered by the federal government to recall 450,000 radial tires made by Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber for pickup trucks, SUVs and vans because of alleged flaws that could lead to tread separation.
The tires were sold under at least four brands — Compass, Telluride, Westlake and YKS — by distributors in California, Florida, Maryland, Minnesota and Mississippi, according to safety advocacy company Safety Research & Strategies. The company said on its Web site that the number of defective tires may be higher than initially reported and noted that the tires were made without the “gum strips, a key safety feature.”
An NHTSA official told The New York Times that the agency is “outraged” that it took the importer more than two years to disclose suspicions about the tires. On Tuesday, Hangzhou Zhongce told Bloomberg that it denies selling defective tires.
Foreign Tire Sales was sued in May by the families of two men killed when a van allegedly equipped with Hangzhou tires crashed last year in Pennsylvania. The lawsuit led to the importer suing Hangzhou in late May and alerting the NHTSA on June 11.
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=121422
What if an equal ado were made about the ornaments of style in literature, and the architects of our bibles spent as much time about their cornices as the architects of our churches do? So are made the belles-lettres and the beaux-arts and their professors. Much it concerns a man, forsooth, how a few sticks are slanted over him or under him, and what colors are daubed upon his box.
-Thoreau’s Walden
Edited 6/29/2007 9:18 am ET by rez
Replies
Heard that on NPR yesterday. Thing is, Foreign Tire Sales is a tiny outfit that can't come remotely close to pulling off an estimated $60-million recall. Caveat emptor and then sue everyone in sight I guess. Latest tip this morning was to avoid Chinese fish. Did everyone really think that there would be no consequense to shunting hard-won US quality standards in favor of getting more stuff for a few pennies less? Sheesh -- think of how Chinese consumers must feel; not to mention their near-slave condition workers!
Back in the '70s, a friend bought a racing bicycle fitted with Korean Dae Yung (prounounced Die Young) tires.
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Something that's really scary is the organ transplant biz (for foreign customers) in China. Kinda like an execution house on one side of the building and a transplant hospital on the other.
So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
I love apple jiuce. About 6 mo ago I started buying Walmart house brand apple juice but I didn't really like the taste. Subtle difference but nonthe less different. Then I noticed in really fine faint print on the neck of the plastic bottle "from China".
I'm not usually hyper sensitive about those things but I quit using it or any juice "from China". And if you look you'll find a lot.
Now............ all the news about China's food supply being absolutely CRAP..... ??????? Lettuce-Toothpast-Catfish etc etc.... What's next?
I'll NEVER eat anything from a country that has no control of or ethics about the cleanliness or purity of food. YUK!
OK, how 'bout this one - I just read that 94% of American flags are made in China!
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
You know, that there is just wrong in too many ways.
I just read that 94% of American flags are made in China!
Right after 9-11 everybody was out buying US flags to show their patriatism, a good thing but I think I heard the same stat that you just posted, roughly all the flags were made in China!
Doug
That explains a lot.
So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
Tire buyers should also be aware of the problems seen in Goodyear's new Fortrel tires with the DOT date of "03-05". This set of tires cost almost $1,000!!! When they warm up, a vibration sets in. A set of 4 tires had so much vibration from the floorboard, my feet tingled from the constant highway vibration after only a short 35 mile trip.
I had to have 6 tires replaced with the smoothest running tires of this brand having another DOT date stamped on the Goodyear tire. But, in trying to get the back set of "0305" tires replaced with another DOT manufacture date, one of the co-managers of the Goodyear store took those smooth running Fortrel tires off and put a set of "0305" stamped on them to hide the major difference between the smooth running front set and the rear's set of constant vibration....making them have all the same defect leaves no comparison...
When I saw what he tried to do, I'd already contacted the Goodyear website to receive a uncaring email saying that when tires are replaced no guarantee of getting tires made from certain plants is given... With the problems that Firestone had with blowouts and the Ford Explores, I'm guessing Goodyear wasn't going to own up to ANYTHING...
Finally, three weeks later, the second co-owner took the defective tires off and replaced the with a new set of Michelin's equal model. The smoothest ride came at the lowest level of faith in Goodyear's tire stores. Haven't had a single problem with the Michelin's tires and I personally thanked the co-manager for his help... After 8 Goodyear tires and now the set of 4 new Michelin's, I go back to the Goodyear store for regular free rotation and balancing, but I have nothing to do with the other low-life lying manager name "Tory" that tried to hide the problem... Yes there are defective tires and defective people...stay away from both;>)
Bill
Edited 6/29/2007 2:28 pm ET by BilljustBill
Edited 6/29/2007 2:32 pm ET by BilljustBill
Michelin tires are the most expensive tires out there. Usually they last longer than any other brand. You get what you pay for. Btw I only use Michelin's on my carsMartin
Michelins are worth the money.
I had a set of firestones on my Ranger that went 84000 miles. Rated at 50000 I think. Replaced them with Goodrich tires, and I know already they arent going to go the same miles, even though they show longer treadlife on the sidewall.
Michelins are great. I've got a set of Pirrelis on my truck, though, and I love 'em.George Patterson
My F150 came with Goodyears, They would have lasted for 85k if the truck would stay on the road in the wet!! They put me off Goodyear for ever. I'm running Continentals now and they work well, smooth, grip, low noise and wear evenly.
The words Mexico and China are not yet used in sentences with "good quality"
You know I completely expected Nankangs to be on that list. That's either forthcoming or we've got blinders on. Check your meats.
Real trucks dont have sparkplugs
a few weeks ago there was an article in the paper about 170 or so boat loads of foods and other stuff from China that was refused entry into the US and sent back to China...
the kicker was that these rejects were taken to another ports(s) and entry was tried / attempted again with modified paper work... some several times at other ports...
the list of contaminates was pretty scary... all kinds of grub was on the list..Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
I gotta tell you I'm at about 8K on that set of Michy truck treads and man. The world will never look the same. I think if I bought a new heavy duty pickup today, if I could ONLY change one thing from factory, I'd put on 19.5 commercials.
The downside is the up front cost but in the long term, if you think that way, you're way ahead. You just need the patience to be long term. Break even point is about 70K for miles. Thats for the stuff you can put a number on. For ride, trailering, youre just ahead from the start . . . and frankly, I kind of like that little bit of singing I get from them above 40. Its in tune with the turbo. Real trucks dont have sparkplugs
I've been using Bridgestone commercials...
they have been good to me...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Video tape or DVD?
So convenient a thing it is to be a reasonable Creature, since it enables one to find or make a Reason for everything one has a mind to do. --Benjamin Franklin
DVD....Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!