Firestone executive admits it made "bad tires" before Senate Commerce Committee hearing

Firestone's Exec VP takes "full responsibility" for problems that led to recall

Firestone previously blamed external factors: driving conditions, care, & maintenance

Unique design specs of 235/75/R15 Wilderness AT tire + variations in manufacturing process at Decatur plant to blame

Says tires "only part of the overall safety problem"

Firestone narrows focus of its investigation; accepts responsibility, but not all blame

Examining potential design & manufacturing problems; processes & specifications

Shareholders are worried

NHTSA re-directs $1.8M to expedite probe investigation

Firestone takes "full responsibility" for problems that led to the tire recall. But the tires are "only part of the overall safety problem." -- Says Firestone's John Lampe, referring to rollover characteristics of Ford's Explorer

Both Ford & Firestone have been blaming each other ... "What you & I have here is a situation where Ford says we ought to recall the Firestone tires & Firestone says we ought to recall the Ford cars or Explorers.

It's like tying 2-cats by the tails & throwing them over the clothesline & letting them claw at each other." -- Says Sen. Ernest Hollings (D., S.C.)

University of California, Berkeley professor consults for Firestone

Decatur plant age & lack of adequate air conditioning partially to blame for manufacturing quality problems due to damaged materials

Equipment, belts, & vulcanization process to be examined; consultant to advise

Too little heat leads to tread separation; too much leads to elasticity problems