Sears Stops Selling Suspect Tires
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Sears, Roebuck and Co (S.N), the nation's No. 1 tire
retailer, said on Friday it stopped selling certain Bridgestone Firestone tires
for sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and pickup trucks after fatal crashes linked
to tire failure prompted a government review.
``We are discontinuing sale of those tires,'' Peggy Palter, a Sears'
spokeswoman, said. ``Until we have more information from Firestone, the
responsible thing to do for our customers is to discontinue the sales.''
Sears sells the Bridgestone Firestone ATX, ATX II and Wilderness tires for
pick-up trucks and sports utility vehicles at its 780 Sears Auto Centers and
350 NTB auto parts stores.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on Thursday said it
was probing 21 deaths in crashes of pickup trucks and SUVs where tire failure
may have played a role.
NHTSA began investigating Bridgestone Firestone tires in May after reviewing
complaints of tread separation from consumers.
Officials at Bridgestone Firestone could not immediately be reached for
comment, but the company earlier this week defended the tires, saying properly
inflated and maintained ATX, ATX II and Wilderness tires are ``among the safest
tires on the road.''
Japan's Bridgestone Corp (5108.T). bought U.S. tire maker Firestone in 1988.
Sears, which will continue to sell other model Firestone tires, said the tires
under review for safety concerns are special-order tires, so the retailer is
not carrying large inventories.
Ford Motor Co.'s (F.N) Explorers are involved in many of the accidents reported
to NHTSA, although vehicles made by General Motors (GM.N), Toyota Motor Corp
(7203.T), were among others also sold with the tires.
Shares of Hoffman Estates, Ill.-based Sears rose 1/8 to 31-1/8 in morning trade
on the New York Stock Exchange. Reut10:36 08-04-00
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