After a yearlong investigation into Bridgestone/Firestone tires, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is preparing to urge the company to dramatically expand its recall. Firestone maintains that its tires are safe and threatened to fight NHTSA's actions in court if necessary. Any NHTSA ordered recall would require a public hearing, and its final ruling could be challenged in Federal court.

The company's current recall involves P235/75R15 size ATX and ATX II tires and the P235/75R15 size Wilderness AT tires used as original equipment on Ford Explorers and manufactured at its Decatur, Ill. plant. NHTSA wants the company to recall two other sizes of Wilderness AT tires, also original equipment on Explorers.

Earlier this summer, Ford Motor Co. announced that it would replace all 13 million Wilderness AT tires on its popular Explorer brand SUV due to safety concerns. If NHTSA's actions force an expanded Firestone recall, the company may be liable to Ford for the $2.1 billion spent on the replacement operation.

Firestone itself has spent over $900 million on the current tire recall and is facing a multitude of lawsuits.