HOT - Tire recall for pickup trucks, SUVs and vans

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If you purchased radial tires for your vehicle since 2005; please check the brand. Tires manufactured by Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber and sold under the brands: Westlake Compass Telluride YKS were manufactured without the gum strip that keeps the tread from separating from the tire. This results in vehicle rollovers (remember Firestone's problems in 2000). There have been at least three serious accidents that are known to have been caused by these tires. The defect was not reported until this year by the importer - Foreign Tire Sales because they only "suspected" a problem. A full recall has been ordered; BUT, Foreign Tires Sales says they do not have the money to pay for the recall and they may be filing for bankruptcy instead of carrying out the recall. By law, the importer is responsible for all the expenses of a recall, NOT the manufacturer. Originally, the Chinese company that manufactures these tires was making them correctly. But, sometime in 2005, Hangzhou Zhongce decided to "cut costs" and leave this gum strip out and they only recently admitted it to Foreign Tire Sales even though Foreign Tire Sales had contacted them several times before about the hig number of tire failures. These defective tires have been sold across the US and to other importers in other countries. So, if you or someone you know has any of these tires, get rid of them as soon as possible.