OCTOBER 26, 00:11 EDT
AKRON, Ohio (AP) - The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. on Wednesday dismissed as misleading a published report that tread separation problems similar to those that have plagued Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. have contributed to eight deaths linked to its light-truck tires.
Goodyear said it plans no recall. The Los Angeles Times reported on Tuesday that Goodyear became aware of design problems with its 16-inch Load Range E tires five years ago and made a design change to strengthen them. The company did not recall the tires, and millions of them remain on the road, including the popular Goodyear Wrangler AT and HT, the newspaper said.
The Akron, Ohio-based tire maker said it found no defects. Goodyear settled several lawsuits resulting from crashes, but settlement amounts and company documents have been kept secret. The lawsuits blamed tread separation, which is similar to the problems experienced by Bridgestone/Firestone.
``This is not a Firestone tire recall situation,'' said Joseph M. Gingo, a senior vice president. The prepared statement said Goodyear engineers examined the light-truck tires on several occasions since 1994. They have found no material, design or manufacturing process problems with them, he said.
In August, Bridgestone/Firestone voluntarily recalled 6.5 million ATX, ATX II and Wilderness AT tires, most of which were standard equipment on the Ford Explorer. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating 3,500 complaints and 119 traffic deaths in connection with Bridgestone/Firestone tires. Some of the complaints were about tread separation.
Gingo said the company is aware of 30 personal injury and fatal accidents in which tire failure may have been a factor, but Goodyear tire damage in each case was linked to impact damage, puncture damage or overloading and under-inflation.
Goodyear started putting nylon overlays on light truck tires in 1996 to make them stronger, although that does not prevent tread separation.
NHTSA spokesman Tim Hurd said Wednesday there have been 58 complaints about Goodyear tread separation that may have contributed to four crashes, one injury and one death. But a formal investigation has not begun.
Documents regarding Goodyear tire tread separations are part of a lawsuit in Trenton, N.J., but are sealed at Goodyear's request.
A hearing on opening those records is scheduled next month.
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