DALTON TANONAKA, CNN ANCHOR: U.S. auto safety regulators are blaming more deaths on the failure of tires made by the U.S. unit of Japan's Bridgestone. The number of fatalities linked to Firestone tires in the U.S. now stands at 203. Bridgestone's share price moved up nearly a 1/2 percent despite that announcement. The news comes as chief executives from Firestone and U.S. automaker Ford testify at a U.S. congressional hearing later today on their bitter corporate fight. CNN's Patty Davis has more from Washington.</s>PATTY DAVIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A caravan of Ford Explorers carrying thousands of United Autoworkers heads for Washington from Michigan. Their goal, to show support for Ford CEO Jacques Nasser.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ford is sponsoring us, OK, and the UAW is helping them because this is our livelihood.</s>DAVIS: Nasser and Firestone CEO John Lampe testifying on Capitol Hill; the first time they'll face congressional scrutiny since Firestone announced last month that it will stop selling tires to Ford.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK, let's start.</s>DAVIS: Ford is in the midst of replacing 13 million Firestone Wilderness AT tires that weren't part of last summer's recall, and congressional staffers say they hope to help consumers sift through all the conflicting data and finger pointing. The two companies are tossing barbs, each armed with studies incriminating the other in tire-related crashes that have left more than 200 dead. Firestone says the Ford Explorer has a design flaw that makes the vehicle more prone to rollovers. In retaliation, Ford says Firestone's own claims data show Wilderness tires, particularly older ones, fail at a higher rate than others. (on camera): Ford says it sent letters like this one to owners of affected Ford Explorers, telling them of the latest replacement effort. The company says older tires will be replaced first. Patty Davis, CNN, Washington.
U.S. Auto Safety Regulators Blaming More Deaths on Failure of Bridgestone Tires