Tire recall 01T006000

The defect

TIRE DESCRIPTION: FIRESTONE FIREHAWK GTA-02 , SIZE P205/55R16 89H, PRODUCED AT THE WILSON, NORTH CAROLINA PLANT FROM JULY 16, 1999, THROUGH NOVEMBER 1, 2000. THESE TIRES WERE INSTALLED AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2000 AND 2001 NISSAN ALTIMA SE PASSENGER CARS. THE RECALLED TIRES ARE IDENTIFIED BY DOT SERIAL #W2 T2 VF3 XXX OR W2 T2 VF3 XXXX; WHERE XXX MAY BE 289, 299, 309, 319, 329, 339, 349, 359, 369, 379, 389, 399, 409, 419, 429, 439, 449, 459, 469, 479, 489, 499, 509, 519, 529, 010, 020, 030, 040, 050, 060, 070, 080, 090, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 170, AND WHERE XXXX MAY BE 1800, 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, 2300, 2400, 2500, 2600, 2700, 2800, 2900, 3000, 3100, 3200, 3300, 3400, 3500, 3600, 3700, 3800, 3900, 4000, 4100, 4200, 4300, 4400, AND 4500. WITH INCREASING MILEAGE, THE TIRES MAY DEVELOP SHOULDER AREA CRACKING. CONTINUED USE OF A TIRE WITH THIS CONDITION MAY LEAD TO EXPOSURE OF THE BELT EDGE.

The risk

UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, A BELT EDGE SEPARATION IS POSIBLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE.

The remedy

FIRESTONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS TO BRING IN THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED FIRESTONE DEALER FOR FREE REPLACEMENT TIRES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 28, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED FIRESTONE DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FIRESTONE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-465-1904.

NHTSA's own wording · initiated by the manufacturer · part: tread/belt