USA: Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. Statement on NHTSA Preliminary Examination of Steeltex R4S Tires

The following is a statement from Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.: Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. today learned that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is opening a preliminary evaluation (PE) into certain of the company's Steeltex R4S and Steeltex AT light truck tires. A NHTSA PE is not a finding of a defect but rather is a process to determine the facts surrounding complaints that have been filed with NHTSA. BFS has, and will continue to have, a policy of being open and responsive to NHTSA as well as other government representatives and agencies. We have been and will continue to work diligently to fulfill these inquiries in a timely and responsive manner with limited staff and limited resources.