Small but deadly: Tire Valve Stems made in ..... guess where.

[Stinky The Clown]

Tire Valve Stem Recall Could Affect 30 Million Cars

The federal government has opened an investigation into whether faulty Chinese-made valve stems could lead to tire failures and potentially serious car accidents. If the investigation triggers a recall, it could affect as many as 30 million vehicles.

Consumer Reports explains, "Cracks in valve stems can cause tires to lose air quickly, and such air loss at highway speeds can result in tire failure and a loss-of-control crash." The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration believes that "as many as 30 million of the suspected valve stems have been distributed in the North American market," since 2006. The suspected valves were distributed by Dill Air Control Products.

Unfortunately, it's very difficult to determine whether or not your vehicle might be affected. The valve stems may be installed on tires from any tire manufacturer. Jalopnik reports, " Identifying a defective valve stem is simple: Dismount each tire from its rim and check. That's right, folks: There's no outward marking to identify the defective valve stems, nor was any tracking system in place to determine who may or may not have received one."

Techno-fandom.org posts photos of the affected stems, which include the Dill TR-413, TR-413 chrome, TR-414 and TR-418 models -- but you have to remove the tires and the valve stems themselves to identify whether you own one of the affected models -- something many consumers may not be able to do on their own, but a tire shop can do for you. Price estimates vary widely.

We'll post updates if the government decides to order a recall of the affected parts.

http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/cars-trucks/daily-news/080905-Tire-Valve-Stem-Recall-Could-Affect-30-Million-Cars/

Our local nooz reported tonight that, in fact, they've been recalled.

More cheap fucking Chinese crap.

Most Favored Nation Status ...... why, again?

[OwnedByFerrets]

1. Why? Because they own us....along with the Saudi's and the Japanese...nt

[riverdeep]

2. Whenever libertarians ask me, 'why would a company want to harm it's own customers?'

I hand them stories like this and ask 'Why don't you tell me?'.

[HughMoran]

6. Just say "profit"

We have problems like this all the time as Chinese want to substitute their "local" copy-cat vendor who can make the patented part for $0.02 - it sickens me the lack of ethics the Chinese have and also that I am the bad guy if I complain.

[loudsue]

7. I've come to HATE our government because of the Chinese imports.

If there was ever ANYTHING that showed their greed, and their blatant disregard for the safety of our citizens, it's the fact that they have put no legislation in place, and funded it, to protect us from this HUGE communist dictatorship that is stealing our jobs, our money and our health...and oftentimes, our lives.

It has to stop. As Obama should say "enough!"

[HughMoran]

12. Let's hope we can change this with Obama's leadership

It's time for a change!

[reggie the dog]

8. capitalism can work IF

and a big IF, it is run for longterm gain, meaning paying workers a good wage so they can be customers too, building customer loyalty by building quality products, and involves companies providing good benefits and not going overboard on pollution, all the while paying taxes to fund a social system in the country they do business in. When companies think in short term only mentality, search the cheapest labor, and use international boundries to escape labor and pollution control the system breaks down.

[asteroid2003QQ47]

11. capitalism can work IF it is transmogri·fied into...

something more humane while still calling it capitalism.
Ditto for libertarianism.

----------------------------------------------
Capitalism is the astounding belief that the most wickedest of men
will do the most wickedest of things for the greatest good of everyone.
- John Maynard Keynes

[reggie the dog]

9. libertarianism for business could work IF

and again a big IF people running the companies were decent, moral, and thought of the quality of life of their workers, their customers, and those living near their factories. In the same way anarchy could work if everyone were cool. Seeing as that neither of these cases is true we need goverment to REGULATE business and individuals for the common good........try that one on your libertarian buddies.

[cabluedem]

10. One reason Libertarianism doesnt work.

[Vinnie From Indy]

14. Yep!

I just had the same conversation with a local anarchist here in Indy. I have always found that many that espouse an extreme version of anarchism can never really answer the question of how to protect society from those wishing to do evil or are negligent to the point of serious harm or death.

[Clovis Sangrail]

3. mandatory tpms started in 2005 and reached 100% in 2007

and tpms stems broadcast unique id's that can be traced to manufacturer.
that would be a far easier way to check.
:shrug:

of course... for this to work the stems in question would have to have tpms.

[Azlady]

4. I was very lucky with one of these tires...

Had a tire blow out on me on a dirt road... going 40.... Mechanic said, had I been on the highway I would have been a different outcome... all 4 NEW tires were replaced they only had 7,000 miles on them. Folks, CHECK your tires daily. Everytime, before getting in your car, check your tires.

[AndyTiedye]

5. Checking Your Tires Won't Protect Against Sudden Valve Stem Failure

:scared:

[renate]

15. glad you're here!

That sentence has a special meaning in your case... thank goodness you're okay!

And welcome to DU!

[Junkdrawer]

13. Symbolic of the whole economic meltdown in so many ways...

Hidden blowouts caused by a lack of regulation.

Perfect.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

16. God damn Chinese.

You never hear about American made tires, Firestone for example, exploding and causing crashes and killing people and being recalled, in, say, 1978, 1996, or, say, 2000.

WTF! China!