US Tyre Tests Condemned As “Extreme”

One of the results of the Firestone recall was a thorough re-examination of tyre safety standards, ordered by the Government. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration looked at existing regulations, which it pointed out were introduced in 1967 and badly in need of an update. One of the suggested improvements is an enhanced drum test – all new tyres have to pass an existing drum test, but the new proposal requires the tyre to run for longer and at a higher speed.

The new proposals have been welcomed by representatives of consumer associations, who see them as contributing towards safer and more durable tyres. However, the Rubber Manufacturers Association, representing tyre makers, believes that today’s tyres are safe enough and have described the new standards as “unwarranted and extreme”. The NHTSA estimates that around 30 per cent of today’s tyres would fail the proposed test, but the RMA puts the figure much higher, saying that around one-half of car and light truck tyres would fail the test.

The RMA also says that, were the proposed standards to become law, it would cost the tyre industry up to $1.5 billion in set-up costs, plus $400 million a year thereafter, and they are lobbying for a cheaper alternative. Analysts are of the opinion that no decision will be made until the end of this year at the earliest and that the introduction would be relatively long-term, say five years or so hence.