Loaded Boards Inc is now recalling all Purple (83a) Orangatang 75mm In Heat longboard wheels purchased between 2/27/09 and 4/29/09 as well as all Orange (80a) Orangatang 75mm In Heat wheels purchased between 3/14/09 and 4/29/09.
Loaded has recently determined that a small percentage of the cores (produced by a third party vendor) used in these batches are not up to our rigorous quality control standards and may run the risk of shearing the bearing seat (blowing out the core and possibly causing the wheel to separate from the truck while in motion), creating a safety hazard to the user. This is a voluntary recall: Consumers should stop riding these wheels immediately and return the wheels (along with date of purchase so we can ascertain that it’s from this batch) to an authorized Loaded Boards/Orangatang dealer or to Loaded Boards, Inc. for a FREE replacement set. Loaded and all Dealers will gladly exchange the wheels for any wheel of choice, including the new Freeride wheels, provided the wheels are in stock or accessible.
The silver lining is that, while these cores have worked well up until this batch, we will be switching over to a new 3rd generation core for future In Heats that provides better wear and slide characteristics. We encourage the performance use of these wheels and do our utmost to ensure that they will hold up to the rigorous use and abuse that they are designed for. We are fully committed to every product we build and we hope you will love them as much as we do.
RETURNING YOUR WHEELS
Remember you can return your wheels to any Orangatang Dealer. The EASIEST and quickest would be to exchange the wheels at any skate shop that carries Orangatang. It does not matter if you bought the wheels from them, you still can exchange there. If you don’t have a shop near you that carries O’tangs, you can return them to the online stores on the web you bought them from or Loaded Boards.
Good call on Loaded for stepping up and admitting their wheels had a problem before someone got injured.
