6.5 MILLION TIRES PULLED: LOCAL DEALER REPORTS INQUIRIES ARE BRISK

The first national tire recall since the early 1970s will keep local dealers of Firestone tires busy, said Mark Rhodes of Plaza Tire Service.

"It has created quite a bit of traffic for us already," said Rhodes, president of Plaza Tire Service.

Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. is recalling 6.5 million tires on sport utility vehicles and light trucks as the government pursues an investigation into whether the tires caused hundreds of accidents and at least 46 deaths.

"If anyone has any doubts, they should bring their tires in and let us look at them," Rhodes said.

It is possible to call in and make an appointment for a tire inspection, but not necessary, he said.

"Our phone traffic on this has been immense," Rhodes said.

Critics maintained the tires should have been taken off the highways sooner and that the manufacturer -- as well as automakers using the tires -- had indications of problems as far back as the early 1990s.

The tire manufacturer announced at a news conference Wednesday that it will phase in a recall of the 6.5 million tires over the next 18 months. The recall is expected to be completed in 11 southern states -- where most of the reported failures have occurred -- by the end of the year.

The voluntary recall covers 3.8 million size P235/75R15 Firestone radial ATX and radial ATX II brand tires produced in North America, and 2.7 million Wilderness AT (all terrain) brand tires produced at the company's Decatur, Ill., plant. The Wilderness tires carry the code "VD."

Other size ATX or ATXII tires or other Wilderness tires are not affected by the recall.

Plaza Tire Service has already started to replace tires, Rhodes said. A new stock of the tires was received last week, so right now supplies are good, he said.

It is possible that next week, replacement tires might have limited availability, Rhodes said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.