( CNN ) -- An Ohio distributor is recalling about 6 million Chinese-made tire valve stems after concluding that some of them were improperly made and could increase the risk of accidents . An Ohio distributor is recalling 6 million Chinese-made car tire valve stems . Tech International , the part 's Johnstown , Ohio-based distributor , estimates that just 8,600 of roughly 6 million of those valves are defective . The valve is a replacement snap-in tire valve -- Model No . TR413 -- manufactured between July and November 2006 . It was imported by Tech International from manufacturer Shanghai Baolong Industries Co. in Shanghai , China , according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration . According to the recall , the rubber part of the valve may crack after being in use for about six months , causing a gradual loss of tire pressure . Continuing to drive on underinflated tires can cause them to burst , possibly leading to crashes . Tech International told the NHTSA that the company does n't have records of the final purchasers of the valve stems . According to the company , the defect was identified after `` a small number '' of the valves were reported by customers and one distributor to have failed . The samples were shipped to China , and , in March , Baolong concluded that some valves could be defective . `` The cause of the defect is likely improper mixing of the rubber compound in the manufacturer 's facility , '' Tech International wrote in a letter to the transportation safety authority .
Ohio-based distributor says valves are n't working properly , could cause accidents . Tech International estimates that just 8,600 of 6 million are defective . Snap-in tire valve , Model TR413 , was made between July and November 2006 . Continuing to drive on underinflated tires can cause them to burst .