February 16, 2006
Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. is recalling 288,000 replacement tires used on passenger cars and light trucks because of concerns about slow leaks and cracking in the tires.
The company will replace the tires for free. Cooper Tire & rubber is warning owners to avoid driving at highway speeds until the tires are inspected and replaced.
Roughly 183,000 tires manufactured between February 2004 and January 21 are on the recall list because of a slow leak that may be caused by a contamination problem the upper sidewall.
The models, used on pickups and sport utility vehicles include the Cooper Discoverer S/T, Dean Mud Terrain Radial SXT, Durango Radial XTR, Mastercraft Courser C/T, Dick Cepek Radial F-C II, Mesa C/T, Pro Comp Xtreme A/T and Tempra Trailcutter Radial RT.
Cooper Tire & Rubber said an additional 101,000 tires used on passenger cars are being recalled because of cracking found during testing.
These tires were made from November 2004 to July 2005 and include the Dean Alpha 365 A/S, Mastercraft A/S, Starfire Flite-line IV and Trendsetter SE.
Cooper Tire was also recalling more than 3,000 of the Cooper Zeon 2XS and Mastercraft Avenger ZHP because of cracking in the sidewall.
The Ohio-based tiremaker reports there have been no known crashes or injuries linked to the recalled tires. Cooper Tire & Rubber produces 40 million tires each year, according to the company.
