Goodyear has recalled a tire that was last made almost two decades ago, after mounting pressure from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The NHTSA has been investigating the G159 tires since December 2017 after a judge ordered the release of sealed data that had been made confidential under court orders and settlement agreements, The Associated Press reported.
The tires were made from 1996 to 2003.
The recall affects about 173,000 G159- size 275/70R22.5 tires, Reuters reported.
Government documents said the tread can separate from the rest of the tire and cause drivers to lose control and increase the risk of a crash.
Lawsuits claimed the tires, which were used on some recreational vehicles, were actually produced for delivery trucks and should not have been used while traveling at highway speeds.
Goodyear had stood by their product in the past, saying there was no safety defect, the AP reported.
Still, the NHTSA said it had received 10 consumer complaints alleging failures of G159 tires. Goodyear separately reported nine claims that involved one death and 13 injuries, Reuters reported.
The NHTSA requested that Goodyear recall the 22.5-inch diameter tires on Feb. 22, the AP reported. The company declined to do so on March 8.
But documents released Tuesday showed that Goodyear eventually agreed to recall the tires “to address concerns that some of these tires may still be in the marketplace or in use.”
Goodyear will replace the tires with a newer model at no cost for RV owners, along with a $60 voucher to professionally weigh the RV, Reuters reported. If the tire is on something other than an RV, then it can be exchanged for a $500 refund.
Since the RV manufacturers that used the recalled tires are no longer in business, Goodyear said it does not have registration data for the vehicles with faulty tires.
The NHTSA said that anyone who owns, rents or uses RVs or trucks with 22.5-inch rims should check the tires and ensure that they do not have G159 mounted on them.
If the recalled tires are on the rims, then drivers are instructed to “have this recall completed as soon as possible,” the AP reported.
