Tires: tread/belt (Firestone)
Tire recall 77T-002. NHTSA received FIRESTONE TIRE AND RUBBER’s report on Jan 24, 1977.
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The short answer
NHTSA received FIRESTONE TIRE AND RUBBER’s report on Jan 24, 1977. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 20, 2026.
Every line below is in NHTSA’s own words, with its source beside it.
What’s wrong with it?
The notice gives no hazard in a field of its own.
THE INVOLVED TIRES MAY DEVELOP FLEX CRACKS IN THE UPPER SIDEWALL AREA WHILE IN SERVICE.
THESE CRACKS ARE A RESULT OF USE OF THE WRONG FABRIC IN ONE OF THE BODY PLIES.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Tires: tread/belt.
What should you do?
DEALER WILL REPLACE THE INVOLVED TIRES AND MOUNT AND BALANCE NEW TIRES, FREE OF CHARGE, WITHIN 60 DAYS OF NOTIFICATION.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: VEHICLE CATEGORY: PASSENGER VEHICLES.SYSTEM: TIRES; DELUXE CHAMPION SUP-R-BELT WHITE SIDEWALL, SIZE J78-15.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: UNDER CONTINUED OPERATION, LOSS OF AIR COULD OCCURWHILE IN SERVICE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND ANACCIDENT.NOTE: TIRES SHOULD BE VISUALLY INSPECTED AND IF ANY SIGNS OF CRACKING IN THESIDEWALL AREA IS DETECTED, THE TIRE SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM SERVICE IMMEDIATELY.DOT ID NUMBER: VHV1DD9406.
Which ones are recalled?
NHTSA counts 2,070 tires potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- Firestone J7815NHTSA gives no dates made
Who is recalling it?
- Made by FIRESTONE TIRE AND RUBBER.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
What the record doesn’t say
- NHTSA’s recall file doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.
- Which tires, by their DOT codes: the range is in the recall’s report on NHTSA’s site, not in this file. Check the code on your tire’s sidewall against it.
- How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Hearth Record wrote these lines.
Sources
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National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Recalls flat file before 2010 (FLAT_RCL_PRE_2010).
Released Oct 20, 2026 and checked Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
Vehicle, car seat, tire and vehicle equipment recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Copied on Oct 20, 2026.