Continental Voluntary Tire Exchange

[SubLGT]

This voluntary recall of 146,568 tires applies to one model and only in one size.

https://continentaltire.custhelp.co...0d447a31a970a1810e68a73d4a2fc6ae/13/MA!!/14/1

...Continental Issues Voluntary Exchange Program for ProContact GX AO 255/35 R19 96H XL Car Tires

...146,568 original equipment and replacement tires in the U.S. are subject to a voluntary exchange program and will be replaced free of charge

...Continental proactively initiated this exchange program. Its market observation program had revealed an increase in warranty complaints connected to these tires. Affected tires may exhibit localized tread wear in the tread shoulders, excessive vibrations and noise. They may develop a belt edge separation. With continued use, the tires could experience a partial or full tread or belt loss.

 

[Rand]

That's a new one "voluntary exchange program" = RECALL with a new name.

 

[mcrn]

As long as you know.......who would not want free new tires?

 

[edyvw]

That's a new one "voluntary exchange program" = RECALL with a new name.

If it was a safety issue, they would have to issue a recall pushed by the NHTSA. I do not see the NHTSA mentioned here at all.

 

[benjamming]

@CapriRacer what would cause this issue? design or fabrication issue? I assume the latter...

 

[Rand]

This isnt exactly safe.

Affected tires may exhibit localized tread wear in the tread shoulders, excessive vibrations and noise. They may develop a belt edge separation. With continued use, the tires could experience a partial or full tread or belt loss.

If it was a safety issue, they would have to issue a recall pushed by the NHTSA. I do not see the NHTSA mentioned here at all.

 

[edyvw]

This isnt exactly safe.

Probably Continental is jumping ahead of NHTSA, which is not common (Toyota 3.4TT as an example).

 

[CapriRacer]

@CapriRacer what would cause this issue? design or fabrication issue? I assume the latter...

According to documents filed with NHTSA, there was a design problem. They did describe the problem in general terms, and I can't tell from the description what it might have been - only a couple of educated guesses.

And a few side notes:

The recall is identified as 24T009 - meaning the ninth tire recall in 2024. That doesn't sound like a lot of recalls for the year compared to the past. I'll do some research and report back.

Also, "Voluntary Tire Exchange" is a common euphemism for a recall done without being forced by NHTSA. It is now common for tire manufacturers to get ahead of the public relations aspect of this by informing NHTSA, rather than having NHTSA force the recall - very painful. I should write up an article on recalls and all the stuff involved. The process is really interesting

 

[CKN]

That's why I never buy "First Tier" tires! LOL!

 

[Vercingetorix]

AO=Audi