Federal safety officials have ordered a tiny tire importer to recall as many as 450,000 tires that it bought from a Chinese manufacturer and sold to U.S. distributors. The tires were made without a safety feature, called a gum strip, which helps bind the belts of a tire to each other.

The Hangzhou tires at issue were sold under at least four brand names: Westlake, Compass, Telluride and YKS; int these sizes: LT235/75R-15, LT225/75R-16, LT235/85R-16, LT245/75R-16, LT265/75R-16, and LT3X10.5-15.

Hangzhou tires were sold to these distibutors: Tireco, in Compto, California; Strategic Import Supply, in Wayzata, Minnesota; Omni United USA Inc., in Jacksonville, Florida; Orteck International Inc., in Gaithersburg, Maryland; K&D Tire Wholesalers LLC, in Carlsbad, California and Robinson Tire, in Laurel, Mississippi.

If you have had an accident due to the separation of one of these tires, contact us for a free consultation regarding your legal rights.