From AAIA Capital Report

Consumer safety advocates are asking Congress to change rules governing when public regulators must release automotive defect information. The request comes after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) failed to release Early-Warning Reporting (EWR) data regarding alleged defective tires produced in China. At least two deaths are blamed on the reportedly defective tires. Consumer safety advocates want to compel NHTSA to share EWR information with consumers, while manufacturers and the agency contend that some information could cause competitive harm upon disclosure and should remain private.

The tire importer, Foreign Tire Sales, issued a recall of 450,000 radial tires for light trucks, SUVs and vans sold under the brand names Westlake, Telluride, Compass and YKS. The tires were missing all or part of the gum strip that keeps the belts from separating. Foreign Tire Sales initially claimed it could not afford to recall the tires, but NHTSA ordered it to comply with rules requiring importers to bear the cost of a recall.