European NGO Highlights Tyre Noise Concerns

The European Federation for Transport and Environment (T&E) has added a new feature to their website. The major European NGO, whose principal task is to advocate and campaign for sustainable transport, has included a demonstration of tyre noise on its website as part of its effort to highlight how much more can be done to reduce the noise pollution created by road transport.

According to T&E, the majority of noise generated by road traffic comes not from engines but from the sound generated by tyres rubbing on road surfaces. At speeds above 30km/h for passenger cars and 50km/h for lorries tyre noise becomes a greater factor than engine noise. The issue of tyre noise has become more pronounced over time as the trend towards wider tyres has increased.

New low noise tyres reduce noise levels to more than half the noise level permitted under current legislation, the 2001 EU Directive (2001/43) on motor vehicle tyre noise. This legislation was due to be revised in mid-2004, however to date the European Union has not implemented legislation that calls for the compulsory use of quieter tyres.

In March the EU announced that the 2001 directive would be incorporated – along with requirements for safety, rolling resistance, and TPMS – into a general directive on tyres. According to T&E, no further proposals will be announced until September.