Accident Reconstruction Network > News > December 2005 > 12/29/05

Accident Reconstruction News Article

GREENVILLE, S.C., Dec. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Michelin North America has notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Transport Canada that it is recalling approximately 6,500 Michelin® Pilot® Sport 255/35ZR20 97Y Extra Load tires in the United States and Canada. This recall involves these specific tires only and has no impact on any other Michelin tires.

This decision was taken after Michelin's internal quality control system indicated that the tires do not meet its quality standards and are therefore being recalled. In an affected tire, the condition is ordinarily noticeable as a blister on the sidewall of the tire. The blister may produce a noticeable tire vibration, which a driver might detect. The condition may result in a rapid loss of air pressure, which could potentially lead to a loss of control and potential vehicle crash.

To date, there have been no accidents or injuries reported in North America. The majority of the approximately 6,500 tires affected by the recall were distributed in the United States with fewer than 400 distributed in Canada. Related actions are under way in other countries.

The recalled tires were fitted as original equipment on some trim levels of Jaguar XJ8 vehicles and also were available in the replacement market. The affected tires' DOT markings begin with FHPNEFMX and end with 00, 01, 02, 03 or 05. The company will be replacing all potentially affected tires in a comprehensive commitment to retrieve from the market any tire that does not meet Michelin quality standards. Replacement tires are available at no cost (including mounting and balancing) to consumers through Michelin tire dealers.

Any consumer in the United States or Canada who believes they are affected by the recall should not wait to receive notification but should call Michelin Consumer Relations at 1-800-847-3435 (1-888-871-4444 in Canada) or return to their servicing tire dealer for a free inspection and replacement of affected tires.

The world's largest tire maker, Michelin (www.michelin.com) manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy-duty trucks, motorcycles and the space shuttle. The company also publishes travel guides, maps and atlases covering Europe, Asia, Africa and North America. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America employs more than 23,000 and operates 20 plants in 16 locations.

About the DOT Code and Tire Identification Number

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) markings serve as the tire's fingerprint and signify compliance with U.S. Tire Safety Standards and Transport Canada Minimum Performance Standards. The DOT code can be found on the sidewall right above the rim printed in small type less than half an inch tall.

Make sure your tire is of the make and model:

Michelin® Pilot® Sport 255/35ZR20 97Y Extra Load
Then, look for a DOT code on the sidewall that begins with FHPNEFMX and ends with 00, 01, 02, 03 or 05 as the final two digits.

If you are having difficulty identifying your tire's DOT code, please ask your local tire dealer to assist you or call Michelin Consumer Relations at 1-800-847-3435 (1-888-871-4444 in Canada).

The first two characters FH designate the tire's manufacturer and plant code. The third and fourth characters denote the tire size. The fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth (optional) characters identify the brand as well as other significant characteristics. The final four numbers denote the date the tire was produced with the first two indicating the week and the last two numbers indicating the year (05 indicates the tire was built in 2005).

Source: Michelin North America, Inc.

###

Back to Accident Reconstruction News