Tires (Firestone)
Tire recall 81T-025. NHTSA received FIRESTONE TIRE AND RUBBER’s report on Dec 23, 1981.
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The short answer
NHTSA received FIRESTONE TIRE AND RUBBER’s report on Dec 23, 1981. 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.
TIRES MAY HAVE BEEN STAMPED WITH THE INCORRECT MAXIMUM INFLATION PRESSURE SPECIFICATION, SO THAT AN UNDERINFLATED CONDITION CAN EXIST.
UDERINFLATED TIRES CAN WEAR OUT PREMATURELY.
USED ACCORDING TO THE INFORMATION ON THE SIDEWALL, THE TIRES ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE ENDURANCE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 109, “NEW PNEUMATIC TIRES”.
SEPARATION OF THE REINFORCING PLIES FROM THE RUBBER COMPOUND MAY OCCUR AND CAUSE A LOSS OF AIR.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Tires.
What should you do?
TIRES WILL BE REPLACED, MOUNTED AND BALANCED WITHOUT CHARGE WITHIN 60 DAYS OF RECALL NOTIFICATION.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: VEHICLE CATEGORY: PASSENGER VEHICLES.SYSTEM: TIRES; FIRESTONE STEEL XL, SIZE P235/75R15.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: LOSS OF AIR MAY CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND,POSSIBLY, AN ACCIDENT.DOT ID NUMBER: VCHL1E1411. TIRES MUST ALSO HAVE THE MOLD IDENTIFICATION STAMPL4A OR L4B.
Which ones are recalled?
NHTSA counts 62 tires potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- Firestone P23575R15Built from Oct 1, 1981 to Oct 1, 1981
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.