Another estimated 100,000 recalled tires were replaced Monday and Tuesday, bringing the total to about 660,000 as the first air shipment of replacement tires arrives today from Bridgestone Corporation manufacturing plants in Japan. The speed of the recall continues to accelerate with Bridgestone/Firestone and other tire makers ramping up production of replacement tires and consumers turning to the Internet for retail locations, reimbursement forms and lists of approved replacement tires.
Bridgestone/Firestone’s Web sites — www.firestone.com — have hosted up to 100 times the normal number of visitors who are selecting information from the Voluntary Safety Recall Information Center. The forms for getting reimbursed for replacement tires purchased at tire dealers other than Firestone Tire and Service Centers and authorized Bridgestone/Firestone retailers can be downloaded from the Center. Ford Motor Company’s Web site (www.ford.com) features the list of approved replacement tires manufactured by Bridgestone/Firestone and other major tire manufacturers. Competitive tire makers, such as Goodyear and Michelin, feature information about the recall on their Web sites.
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“The more information consumers have, the quicker we will complete this recall so that our customers can be assured of their safety,” said Christine Karbowiak, vice president of public affairs for Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. “The Internet’s ability to share information quickly with millions of consumers is a real plus in this recall effort.”
Customer wait times on the company’s Web sites have steadily improved, with consumers currently waiting less than 4 seconds for information.
The first air shipment of new replacement tires from Japan left earlier today on a Thai Airways flight from Japan and at least 10 more flights are planned before next Monday. These shipments will continue nearly every day as long as needed to assist consumers involved with the recall.
On August 9, Bridgestone/Firestone issued a voluntary safety recall of all Firestone P235/75R15 Radial ATX and Radial ATX II tires made in North America, and P235/75R15 Wilderness AT tires made at the Decatur, Ill., plant.
