In August, 2006, two young men were killed, a third critically injured when a tire defect caused the van they were driving in to lose control and roll over. This was not a case involving SUVs and under inflated tires. The tire was defective. A gum strip designed to maintain the integrity of tire belts was either reduced in size or eliminated, saving the Chinese tire company that manufactured the tire .30 to .40 cents each.

In the investigation and lawsuits that followed, more than just a half-million defective tires were exposed. Issues surrounding an importer’s responsibility for defective products and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s inability to mount a recall of products made abroad also surfaced.

The light truck tires were imported by Foreign Tire Sales of Union, New Jersey and carried the brand names Westlake, Telluride, Compass and YKS.  It is believed the defective tires were manufactured between 2004 and 2005 and sold through the following distributors:

• Tireco., Compton, California
• Strategic Import Supply, Wayzata, Minnesota
• Omni United USA, Inc., jacksonville, Florida
• Orteck International, Inc., Gaithersburg, Maryland
• K&D Tire Wholesalers LLC, Carlsbad, California
• Robinson Tire, Laurel Mississippi

Size and model numbers included in the recall:

• LT235/75R-15, models CR861, CR857 with a Department of Transportation (DOT) number starting with 7DT5FTS.
• LT235/85R-16, models CR860, CR861, CR857, with DOT number beginning with 7DT2FTS.
• LT245/75R-16, models CR860, CR861, CR857, DOT, 7DT3FTS.
• LT265/75R-16, models CR860, CR861, CR857, DOT 7DT6FTS.
• LT31X10.5R-15, models CR857, CR861, DOT 7DT6FTS.

The purpose of the Tire Safety Institute site is to provide information on this tire defect and recall as well as other ongoing tire safety issues.

If you believe you were the victim of an accident caused by tire defects, contact us using the form to the right.