New Zealand Winter Tyre Restrictions “Not Enough”, Says Campaigner

The New Zealand Government has prohibited the fitting of both winter and summer tyres to the same vehicle, yet for a man that has campaigned against the cold weather product for two years this ban does not go far enough. Don Graham’s fiancée was killed in 2007 when her car – fitted with winter tyres on the rear wheels – lost traction on a wet road, and he believes that cold weather tyres have no place in New Zealand.

“It’s nowhere near enough,” Graham said, referring to the ban. “I won’t give up until they stop them from coming into the country.” Most winter tyres, known as snow tyres in New Zealand, largely enter the country fitted to second hand vehicles shipped from Japan. These imported used vehicles are the main source of cars for New Zealand consumers, and seven per cent of Japan’s used cars (by value) end up there.

The country’s Motor Trade Association welcomed the government decision to ban mixed tyre use from April 1, 2010 and a minimum winter tyre depth of 4mm, however spokesman Dougal Morrison said the organisation said it would continue to push for a ban on imported cars entering the country with the tyres fitted. “New Zealand just becomes a dumping ground for used snow tyres from overseas, notably Japan, and the tyres are often used in inappropriate conditions,” he commented.

Despite the winter conditions in New Zealand’s South Island – where winter minimum temperatures on average range from 0°C to 2°C, winter tyres are not a feature of the country’s new tyre replacement market. The practice of changing tyres to match seasonal conditions is virtually unknown there.