RECALLED: Michelin LTX M/S, LT225/75R16 LRE,

[wmtire]

I posted news of this recall in the recall thread that is a sticky but also felt I needed to post this again in it's own thread since it could potentially affect so many of our members here on FRF.

This Michelin tire is a very popular tire of choice, that many of our members may have on certain Class B, Class C, or even their travel trailers.

Meanwhile, if you have these tires on anything you own, you may want to start preparing for getting them replaced.

Here is the information on them from Michelin's website:

Michelin is recalling one version of a specific size of the Michelin LTX M/S tire. These tires are typically found on such vehicles as commercial light trucks, full-sized heavy duty vans, small RVs and some large pickup trucks.

• The tires were produced between January 2010 and June 2012.
• The tire version and size are:
  • Michelin LTX M/S LT 225/75R16 115/112R LRE
• The tires were fitted as original equipment on some new vehicles and were also sold as new replacement tires.
• Michelin is issuing the recall because a small number of the tires being recalled experienced tread loss and/or rapid air loss.

Michelin recommends removal of these tires as soon as possible. Owners of the affected tires should visit an authorized Michelin retail location as soon as possible to have the tires replaced at no charge.

1. Determine if it matches the information below:

DOT sequence begins with B3JH AKEX ---



and ends with a date code (2-digit week and 2-digit year) between 0210 and 2512 inclusive.

[Herk7769]

Just checked mine.

I discovered my Michelin truck tires were made in plant M3 (Greenville, SC) and the recalled tires were made in the Nova Scotia plant (B3).

I wonder what went wrong and why it was not caught?

[Ford Idaho]

Makes me glad I run Coopers on the truck and Akuret's on the trailer.....

[dalford]

wmtire, Thank you for keeping everyone on this forum informed on tire recalls and other tire issues. You do all of us a great service...

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by herk7769

I wonder what went wrong and why it was not caught?

Lou, it's rare that tire companies explain the technical reasons to the general public. However this is the press statement they have released to the news and tire trade publications for it so far.

GREENVILLE, S.C. (Dec. 13, 2013) — Michelin North America Inc. has announced a safety recall of approximately 1.3 million Michelin LTX M/S commercial light truck tires because of increasing reports of tread loss and/or rapid air loss.


Approximately 1.2 million of the tires were sold in the U.S., with most of the remainder sold in Canada and Mexico, Michelin said in a Dec. 13 press release. They are used mostly on commercial light trucks, full-sized heavy-duty vans, small RVs and some large pickup trucks, the Greenville-based tire maker said.


Specifically, the tires are LTX M/S LT 225/75R16 115/112R LRE, manufactured between January 2010 and June 2012 at the firm's Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, plant.


They bear the Department of Transportation (DOT) identification number sequence B3JH AKEX, with production period sequences of 0210 to 2512 inclusive.


Michelin discovered the problem with the tires through its normal methods of monitoring product performance in the market, which include returns, complaints and other customer input, a company spokesman said.


Altogether, there were fewer than 200 returns of the tires in the U.S., or 0.015 percent of the total tire population, according to Michelin. No tires have been returned outside the U.S., the company said. There have been no reports of deaths or injuries related to the tires, it said.


There have been “very few” reports of accidents involving the tires, the spokesman said, although he did not have the exact number.


Michelin stopped making the tires in June 2012 as part of its normal practice of refreshing product lines, according to the company.


Michelin has reported the recall to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and will replace the tires free of charge. The company urged tire owners to visit authorized Michelin dealers as soon as possible to obtain the replacements.


For further information, owners may call Michelin Consumer Care at 1-800-231-5893 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. EST Monday-Friday and between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.

[Rugged Brown]

Originally Posted by wmtire

Specifically, the tires are LTX M/S LT 225/75R16 115/112R LRE, manufactured between January 2010 and June 2012 at the firm's Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, plant.

I'll have to have a chat with my neighbour. He works at that plant. Tell him to get his act together.

[MikeRP]

Thanks everyone! Sorry I missed this thread! Mine are within the date range. 3611.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by MikeRP

Thanks everyone! Sorry I missed this thread! Mine are within the date range. 3611.

Mine are too, but they MUST be from that plant code.
All the others are just fine.

[dwaynerz]

Thanks wmtire foor the heads up. Probably would not have heard of the recall had it not been for you. Unfortunately, my tires are coded m3, so no new tires for me

[ATVer]

Checked my codes and I have the correct plant code and date codes so it looks like 6 new tires for my Sunseeker.

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by ATVer

Checked my codes and I have the correct plant code and date codes so it looks like 6 new tires for my Sunseeker.

Thanks for letting us know this ATVer. I see from your profile you have a 2012 Sunseeker, so I am assuming these Michelins are original equipment tires?

The reason I ask is to ascertain which model Forest River RV's that our fellow Forest River Forum members may have these tires on, so we can help spread the word to them.

I hope others who have these tires will also post their RV models too.

[ATVer]

Originally Posted by wmtire

Thanks for letting us know this ATVer. I see from your profile you have a 2012 Sunseeker, so I am assuming these Michelins are original equipment tires?

The reason I ask is to ascertain which model Forest River RV's that our fellow Forest River Forum members may have these tires on, so we can help spread the word to them.

I hope others who have these tires will also post their RV models too.

Yes, original tires with only about 4000 miles which is good if Michelin wants to prorate when replacing them. I was involved with a recall once before when my tires were almost worn out and I thought, great, I'll get new tires free which was not the case.
Coach is a 2012 model built in November 2011 on a 2011 E450 chassis built in June 2011. It seems that Ford installs the tires the same way on the rims. Thus the date codes are hard to read on the rears because they are on the inside of the duals. Fronts are easier being on the outside.

[dcheatwood]

Very responsible thing for Michelin to do. Trail Express and many others are blowing up and no one takes responsibility. Love my Michelins.

[JimV]

I have these tires on my 2013 Sunseeker 2300. I took delivery on June 19, 2012. The tires have 18300 miles on them. I talk to Michelin and they said they would replace all six, no charge. Thanks to this forum for making me aware of the recall.

[DXSMac]

I have a 2013 Sunseeker that came ordered from the Factory, I took delivery in October 2012.

I just checked my tires. Yeppers, I got them. I called the Michelin customer care number. The important thing is the "Date Code."

B3JH AKEX, and then the next number has to be between 0210 and 2512. My number is 2212.

Ok, I want to know. We get new tires, but will we have to pay for mounting and balancing? That would be lousy if we have to pay those costs. "Oh, you get new tires, here's the catch, you pay for mounting and balancing."

[DXSMac]

I have all of the numbers on my tire except the LRE, does the LRE mean anything? The LRE is NOT on my tire. Where do I get the plant code?

[Ford Idaho]

Originally Posted by DXSMac

I have a 2013 Sunseeker that came ordered from the Factory, I took delivery in October 2012.

I just checked my tires. Yeppers, I got them. I called the Michelin customer care number. The important thing is the "Date Code."

B3JH AKEX, and then the next number has to be between 0210 and 2512. My number is 2212.

Ok, I want to know. We get new tires, but will we have to pay for mounting and balancing? That would be lousy if we have to pay those costs. "Oh, you get new tires, here's the catch, you pay for mounting and balancing."

You forgot the new stems they will want to install.

[DXSMac]

Originally Posted by Ford Idaho

You forgot the new stems they will want to install.

Not to mention the extenders. I gotta have extenders. I can't fill the inside tire without the extenders.

[Ford Idaho]

Originally Posted by DXSMac

Not to mention the extenders. I gotta have extenders. I can't fill the inside tire without the extenders.

Those you can reuse.

If you have metal stems the rubber seal may be replaced rather than the whole thing.

[DXSMac]

I called Michelin again. The rep kept repeating, "The customer doesn't have to pay a cent." I kept asking, "what about mounting and balancing?" Again, the rep repeated the "customer doesn't have to pay a cent." I kept trying to press about mounting, balancing, and valve stems. All I got was the "customer doesn't have to pay a cent." DUDE! YOU AREN'T ANSWERING MY QUESTION!

I tried to call for an appointment, but service doesn't operate on Saturday where I called. So, I will call again on Monday to get an appointment.

But I got another confirmation of the LTX M/S LT 225/75R16 thing, and that the B3 thing was big deal.