Bridgestone/Firestone Initiates Voluntary Recall Of Limited Number of 30X9.50R15LT Widetrack Baja A/T Tires.

Business Editors

NASHVILLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 10, 2002

Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) today announced that it is initiating a voluntary recall of approximately 754 Widetrack brand Baja A/T tires in size 30x9.50R15 produced over a 21-day period beginning September 23, 2001, at its LaVergne, Tenn., plant. The products involved in the recall did not comply with the tire marking requirements set by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS No.119) for new compressed air tires for non-passenger car vehicles, and will be replaced through Widetrack brand retailers.

BFNT's analysis and review of the manufacturing process showed that all of the affected 30x9.50R15LT Widetrack brand Baja A/T tires met the remaining requirements of FMVSS No. 119, and the company believes that the incorrect tire markings did not compromise motor vehicle safety. The maximum load as stated on the tire, in both English and metric units, was actually less than the actual maximum load for these tires. It is not likely the tires would be placed in an unsafe, overload situation as a result of the marking noncompliance.

While the inflation pressure on the recalled tires was incorrectly marked in metric units, the English inflation units were correct. English units are the common usage for inflation pressure in North America, making it highly unlikely that the subject tires would be over inflated as a result of the marking noncompliance.

    The tires which are the subject of this recall can be identified
as follows:

Widetrack brand Baja A/T
DOT serial numbers:
W166WB03801
W166WB03901
W166WB04001

The company will immediately begin contacting dealers who have been shipped these tires in order to identify any consumers who may have purchased these tires. Owners of affected tires whose names have been identified by Widetrack dealers or through tire registration records will begin receiving recall letters by mail within the next several weeks to advise them of the replacement program.

The markings on the non-compliant tires read: Max Load 350 Kg at 1985 Kpa cold; Max Load 900 lbs. at 50 PSI cold. The correct markings should read: Max Load 900 Kg at 350 Kpa cold; Max Load 1985 lbs. at 50 PSI cold.

Widetrack Baja tire owners who would like additional information can call the company's consumer affairs hotline at 1-800-807-9555 or they can call the hotline to locate their nearest Widetrack retailer (a retail location that sells Dayton, Gillette or Road King tire brands). Additional information is also available on the company's Web site at http://www.firestone.com.

Nashville-based Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC is a subsidiary of Bridgestone/Firestone Americas Holding, Inc., whose parent company, Bridgestone Corporation, is the world's largest tire and rubber company. BFNT develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone, Firestone, Dayton and associate and private brand tires. The company is focused on wholesale and original equipment markets, supplying passenger, light truck, commercial vehicle, off-road, agriculture and other tires to its customers in North America.