Continental Tire Recalls 93,959 Continental, General and Barum Tires

Continental Tires has announced the recall of about 93,959 Continental, General, and Barum brand passenger vehicle tires. Made in their Mt. Vernon, Illinois plant, the tires went to vehicle manufacturers, and the aftermarket.

While Continental said they have not heard of any accidents or injuries resulting from a sudden air loss or belt edge separation which might lead to partial or full tread loss, the company believes 203 tires may be defective. Notifying the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) last week, Continental has also been in communication with vehicle manufacturers, who will in turn contact owners of vehicles with these tires. Details of the safety recall program is available at http://continentaltire.custhelp.com.

According to Continental, the tires were cured too long during production. Cooked too long, the tires may develop sidewall breaks resulting in a sudden loss of air pressure, or a belt separation, which could lead to tread or belt loss. Either condition could cause loss of vehicle control, and an increased crash risk. Continental Tire will contact owners that purchased replacement tires. Tires will then be inspected to verify if they are affected, and replaced free of charge as necessary. The recall is expected to begin on April 5th, and owners can call Continental Tire customer service at 1-888-799-2168.

The affected tires can be identified by the brand, size and Department of Transportation (DOT) codes, and found on a link to Continental’s web site, https://continentaltire.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/988. The list NHTSA’s web site is more difficult to use or to find the information needed.

[Images: Continental]