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Strikers Use YouTube to Question Goodyear Tire Safety

By Joe Benton
ConsumerAffairs.com

November 28, 2006

• Tires • Auto Service Centers --- News • Strikers Question Goodyear Tire Quality on YouTube • Lawsuit Over Disposal Fees • Goodyear Responds

The striking United Steelworkers union is using YouTube to question the safety of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. tires produced while 12,000 union workers in the U.S. and Canada are walking picket lines.

The steelworkers suggest that their replacements inside the Goodyear plants can lead to unsafe tires.

A banner headline on YouTube asks "Are Goodyear tires safe?" and the spot ends with a screeching car crash and the question, "What tires do you plan to buy?"

The 30-second spot shows an SUV flipping out of control.

The Internet advertisement includes a grainy black-and-white video ad that seems to be intended to rekindle memories of the giant Firestone tire recall of 2000-2001.

Both sides have Web sites available online about the strike with the Steelworkers aiming at Goodyear investors and customers by questioning company tactics and quality control.

Automakers Shrug

U.S. automakers do not appear overly concerned about the quality of Goodyear tires made by replacements.

A spokesman for Ford said the automaker has internal quality checks, brought about in part by the Firestone recall and has not detected any defective Goodyear tires.

Ford purchases approximately 22 percent of its tires for U.S. production from Goodyear.

The Chrysler group reports no problems with Goodyear tires and a spokesman said the tire maker has assured Chrysler that standards are being met. Nevertheless, Chrysler plans to closely monitor Goodyear tire quality.

The strike has seen some minor violence, mostly fist fights along the picket line. Analysts suggest the dispute is likely to last into 2007. The Steelworkers claim to have a $150 million strike fund at their disposal.

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