Ford Motor Co. plans to equip the bulk of its new Explorer sport utility vehicles with Michelin tires in the wake of a massive recall of Firestone tires, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.
Since the Aug. 9 recall, Ford has asked France’s Groupe Michelin SA to supply as many tires as needed, according to the Journal, which cited an unnamed person familiar with the situation.
The move signals the end of a decade-long reliance on tires made by Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. and jeopardizes a century-old relationship between Firestone and Ford, its biggest customer.
The government is currently investigating 101 deaths over the past decade that are allegedly linked to Firestone tires mounted mainly on Ford Explorers.
Ford is also negotiating with other tire makers to supply tires for the 2002 Explorer, which is to be available early next year, the newspaper said.
Michelin began to discuss supplying the tires for the new Explorer in1997, the newspaper said.