Firm’s Safety Data Aired at Tire Failure Trial

Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. knew years ago that tires with an inexpensive nylon layer would be as much as five times less likely to fail than those without the caps, according to court documents.

Internal company correspondence was included in evidence introduced this week in a $1-billion case in McAllen, Texas, against the tire manufacturer. It may show the company knew of ways to reduce the sort of tread separation that plaintiffs say led to a Ford Explorer rollover that injured four people.