Low Tread Gauge May Cause Tire Failure – Copper Tire CS5 Grand Touring & Mastercraft LSR Grand Touring

September 16, 2020 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20T017000

Low Tread Gauge May Cause Tire Failure

A sidewall failure may cause the tire to rapidly deflate, increasing the risk of a crash.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 20T017

Manufacturer Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.

Components TIRES

Potential Number of Units Affected 1,983

 

Summary

Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. (Copper Tire) is recalling certain CS5 Grand Touring 225/55R17 and Mastercraft LSR Grand Touring 225/55R17 tires with DOT codes 2920 through 3220. The tires may have low tread gauge in the shoulder slot area which could cause tread separation and tire failure.

 

Remedy

Cooper Tire will notify registered owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the tires, free of charge. The recall began September 23, 2020. Owners may contact Cooper Tire customer service at 1-800-854-6288. Cooper Tire’s number for this recall is 177.

 

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

 

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IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL

 

COOPER TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY
Findlay, Ohio  45840 419-423-1321

 

September 21, 2020

Dear Distributor or Dealer:

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company (Cooper Tire) has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in all tires identified as follows:

Product Name	Size	DOT Serial Number	Brand
CS5 Grand Touring	225/55R17	U9 00 1CW 2920-3220	COOPER
LSR Grand Touring	225/55R17	U9 00 FY7 2920-3220	MASTERCRAFT

 

The DOT identification number is molded into each tire, and is composed of a DOT sequence, followed by a four-digit DOT date code. As an example, the following illustration shows what this number would look like for one of the affected tires in the chart above (Mastercraft LSR Grand Touring, Size 225/55R17). For this tire, the DOT sequence begins with U900FY7 — and ends with a date code (2-digit week and 2-digit year), which could be between 2920 through 3220, inclusive. In the example below it is 3120.

Cooper Tire has determined the affected tires as manufactured may have low tread gauge which may cause cracking at the base of the shoulder slots and  tread separation that if undetected may ultimately result in a tire failure leading to the loss of vehicle control.  The affected tires may have a visual anomaly on the outside shoulder area of the tire.  In-service conditions may include a ride disturbance or in certain cases, vehicle steering or ride may be impacted, providing operator notice.  Driving at high speeds may cause this condition to occur and should be avoided until the tires have been inspected and replaced if they fall within the identification numbers shown above.

Cooper Tire is recalling all of the tires with the identification number(s) above. Check your inventory for these specific identification numbers. Effective immediately, you or your dealers must not sell any of the tires listed and described above.

 

“YOU ARE PROHIBITED BY FEDERAL LAW FROM SELLING OR LEASING NEW OR USED TIRES COVERED BY THIS NOTIFICATION.”

If a dealer knowingly sells or leases new or used recalled tires, that sale must be reported to the Associate Administrator for Enforcement, NHTSA, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE, Washington, DC 20590, within five working days after a person to whom the sale or lease has been made has taken possession of that tire. The required contents for such report are provided in NHTSA’s regulation at 49 C.F.R. § 573.10.

You should also comply with the following instructions regarding the return of new and used recall tires at no charge in accordance with such provisions.

 

PROCEDURE FOR RETURN AND CREDIT OF RECALLED TIRES

NEW TIRES:

All recalled new tires existing in your inventory, or in your sub-dealers’ inventories, should be returned immediately in one shipment, freight collect to the designated inspection point for your area as indicated on the attached map.  To assure proper handling, these tires should be listed on the standard Manufacturer’s Tire Claim Form.  In order to expedite the sorting and crediting process, please use a crayon and write the words, “New Recall” on the sidewall of the tire and on the Claim Form in the comments section.

Upon verification by Cooper Tire that the tires returned are within the recall group, we will issue credit to you based upon your last invoice price of the tires.

 

USED TIRES: 

Cooper Tire’s registration records are being searched and consumers who have purchased tires with the subject identification number(s) are being notified of the RECALL.  Attached for your information is a copy of the notification being sent to such consumers.  Tires removed from consumer vehicles as a result of this RECALL should be replaced with tires of like size and construction bearing identification numbers other than those listed above.

We have advised the consumer to return his recalled tire(s) and his letter to you.  If your inspection verifies that the consumer has a tire(s) with the suspect identification number, the tire(s) should be replaced, mounted and balanced at no charge, if presented for remedy within one-hundred and eighty (180) days after (i) receipt of this letter or (ii) notice that a replacement tire(s) is available (if not available at the time of the inspection).  It is expected that replacement tire(s) will be available at the time of inspection.  Please ensure that you have the correct replacement tires in inventory. However, if the tires are not available at the time of inspection, they will be available within twenty-one (21) days. After expiration of the one-hundred and eighty (180) days, tires will be replaced under our normal adjustment policy.

We have advised the consumer that it will take approximately thirty (30) minutes each to replace the recalled tires.  For any tires removed from consumer vehicles during such one-hundred and eighty (180) day period, Cooper Tire will authorize an allowance of $17.50 per tire to cover mounting and balancing.

Tires removed from consumer vehicles must be listed on our standard Manufacturer’s Tire Claim Form. The Claim Form must be properly completed and signed by the consumer and the consumer’s copy of the recall letter attached.

For the purpose of the RECALL, the Claim Form must include RECALL tires only. The word “RECALL” must be printed directly across from the name and address on the claim form in the comments section.  All tires should be identified in crayon with the Claim Form reference number per standard adjustment procedures.  Also, please write the words, “Used Recall” on the sidewall of the tire.

Upon verification by Cooper Tire, credit will be issued to you on a no charge replacement basis if replaced by you and returned to Cooper on or before two hundred and ten (210) days after notice of this RECALL.

All Claim Forms for both “New Recall” and “Used Recall” tire(s) should be mailed to Cooper Tire & Rubber Company using the standard tire adjustment procedures.  Please mail the claim forms one to two days before shipping the tires.  Remember: DO NOT ship the Claim Forms with the tires.

You should return in one shipment all recalled new and used tires to the inspection point as indicated on the attached map. These tires should be classified as SCRAP and shipped as SCRAP RUBBER TIRES, freight collect.  Freight collect privileges apply only within the prescribed time period.  Any tires returned after the designated time will be handled under our regular tire adjustment procedures.

Cooper Tire requests that you advise it of those customers of yours, if any, who have purchased any of the tires described above for which registration forms have not previously been submitted so that such customers can be advised of the recall and the replacement of their recalled tires can be scheduled.

We certainly apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.  If you have any questions pertaining to the implementation of this RECALL or need assistance, please contact the Cooper Tire Consumer Relations Department at 800-854-6288

 

Sincerely,

 

William N. G. Geaman, Jr.
Manager, Consumer Quality Systems

 

Attachments:
Cooper Tire Draft Consumer Letter
RIP Map

CTRD1770920

 

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IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL

 

September 23,  2020

NHTSA Recall No. – 20T-017

 

Dear Customer:

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain Cooper and Mastercraft tires, as identified in the table below.

Product Name	Size	DOT Serial Number	Brand
CS5 Grand Touring	225/55R17	U9 00 1CW 2920-3220	COOPER
LSR Grand Touring	225/55R17	U9 00 FY7 2920-3220	MASTERCRAFT

 

The DOT identification number is molded into each tire, and is composed of a DOT sequence, followed by a four-digit DOT date code. As an example, the following illustration shows what this number would look like for one of the affected tires in the chart above (Mastercraft LSR Grand Touring, Size

225/55R17). For this tire, the DOT sequence begins with U900FY7 — and ends with a date code (2-digit week and 2-digit year), which could be between 2920 through 3220, inclusive. In the example below it is 3120.

 

You are receiving this letter because our records indicate that you may have purchased one or more of the recalled tires.  The affected tires may lead to a crash.  Low tread gauge may cause cracking at the base of the shoulder slots which could lead to tread separation that if undetected may ultimately result in a tire failure leading to the loss of vehicle control.  The affected tires may have a visual anomaly on the outside shoulder area of the tire. In-service conditions may include a ride disturbance or in certain cases, vehicle steering or ride may be impacted, providing operator notice.  Driving at high speeds may cause this condition to occur and should be avoided until the tires have been inspected and replaced, if they fall within the identification numbers shown above.

 

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company is recalling all of the tires with the identification number(s) in the table above.  To ensure your safety and satisfaction with our product, we request that you return the recalled tire(s) and this letter to your dealer.  If the inspection verifies that you have a tire or tires with the suspect identification number, they will be replaced with the same or substantially similar tires, for FREE if you have presented them for remedy within one-hundred and eighty (180) days after (i) receipt of this letter or (ii) notice that a replacement tire is available (if not available at the time of inspection).  It is expected that replacement tires will be available at the time of the inspection.  However, if the tires are not available at the time of inspection, they will be available within twenty-one (21) days.  After expiration of the onehundred and eighty (180) day period, tires will be replaced under our normal adjustment policy.

 

The time required to determine if the tire is subject to recall is only a few minutes and approximately thirty (30) minutes per tire if replacement is required.

 

Should any questions or problems arise while your tires are being inspected or replaced, please call the Cooper Tire Consumer Relations Department at 800-854-6288.  We will attempt to be of service to you.  In the event you believe we have failed to or are unable to replace your tire(s) without charge to you, as described above, you may submit a complaint to the Secretary of Transportation at the following address:  Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20590, or phone NHTSA’s toll-free Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1800-424-9153; or go to https://www.safercar.gov).

 

If you’ve had your tires replaced before you received this letter, you may be eligible to receive reimbursement for the cost of obtaining a pre-notification remedy of the problem associated with this recall.  For more information, contact the Cooper Tire Consumer Relations Department at 800-854-6288.

 

We regret this inconvenience, but are sure that you understand our interest in your safety and satisfaction with your tires.  Please see your dealer immediately for free replacement of the recalled tires.  Give this letter to them so that it can be returned to us for purposes of this recall.

 

Sincerely,

 

William N. G. Geaman, Jr.

Manager, Consumer Quality Systems

 

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2 Affected Products

Tires

BRAND	TIRE LINE/SIZE	PRODUCTION DATES
COOPER	CS5 GRAND TOURING/225/55R17
MASTERCRAFT	LSR GRAND TOURING/225/55R17

 

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4 Associated Documents

Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-20T017-8312.PDF 215.705KB

 

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Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)

RCMN-20T017-3372.pdf 323.706KB

 

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Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-20T017-1723.pdf 323.128KB

 

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ISSUED Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-20T017-0800.pdf 202.099KB

 

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Latest Recalls Documents

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=20T017&docType=RCL

 

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Last update on 2025-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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