Tires withdrawn in U.S. not sold in Canada: Transport Canada

Canadian officials are investigating a tire recall issued in the U.S. to determine if similar action should be taken here, Transport Canada officials said Thursday.

The U.S. recall involves as many as 450,000 light-truck tires purchased by New Jersey-based Foreign Tire Sales Inc. The tires were imported from China's Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber Co.

Foreign Tire Sales said some of its tires were made without a gum strip, a safety device that helps bind the belts of a tire together.

Transport Canada officials said Thursday they are gathering data to determine which companies have imported tires from Foreign Tire Sales.

So far, the federal agency has confirmed that two Canadian wholesalers have imported tires from the New Jersey company. But, Transport Canada officials noted the tires imported into the country were passenger car tires not included in the U.S. recall.

Transport Canada spokeswoman Jessie Chauhan said the federal agency is encouraging consumers who may have purchased the tires to speak with a defect investigator with the department.

Tire manufacturers or importers are required under the Motor Vehicle Safety Act to notify Transport Canada, dealers and people who have purchased affected products about safety problems. Foreign Tire Sales Inc. has not filed a notice of defect with the federal agency.

Chauhan said while Transport Canada monitors recalls issued in other countries, the federal agency conducts independent assessments to determine future action.

"We don't have the power to order a recall but if our evidence clearly shows when we're investigating, as we are, that a safety related defect exists and the company refuses to issue a notice of defect … we would refer the matter to the Department of Justice for a prosecution," Chauhan said.