Tyre labelling 101
From 1 November 2012, every new tyre manufactured since July will be legally required have a tyre label. And what’s more the information contained on the label must be presented – physically or electronically – to the consumer at the point of sale. So what better place to start this month’s in-depth labelling special than to take a look at the much vaunted itself and introduce its main features and some of the discussions relating to it?
Continue ReadingThe label’s coming, but will it deliver what consumers need?
Regulation (EC) No 1222/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the labelling of tyres with respect to fuel efficiency and other essential parameters – to give our new label legislation its full and proper name – comes into force in just a few months. The EU has agreed upon a system of rating tyres using three performance parameters, and almost every new passenger car, light commercial vehicle and truck tyre (C1, C2 and C3 tyres) sold in Europe will come with this rating. But even before its mandatory implementation, murmurs of label scepticism can be heard. Generally, these comments hinge on the label’s limitations, and whether these will hinder consumers from purchasing the tyre best suited to their needs.
Continue ReadingConsultation begins on fixed-penalty fine for careless driving
Careless drivers will be targeted under new proposals announced for consultation by Road Safety Minister Mike Penning. The proposals would make fixed penalty notices available for careless driving, giving the police greater flexibility in dealing with less serious careless driving offences and freeing them from resource intensive enforcement processes. The fixed penalty will also enable the police to offer educational training as an alternative to endorsement. Drivers would still be able to appeal any decision in court.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Dunlop Truck Tyres labelled
Just days after the company announced that its passenger car tyre ranges have been successfully labelled according to the forthcoming European legislation, Goodyear Dunlop has announced that it has completed the testing of some 500 different truck tyres, covering 16 tyre types in over 55 different sizes, ensuring that these are ready to meet the rules that come into force 1 November 2012.
Continue ReadingPressure group opposes 80mph limit
A coalition of high-profile road safety and environmental organisations have today (18th May) launched a campaign protesting the government's plans to increase speed limits on motorways to 80mph.
Continue ReadingComment: No teeth in UK implementation of tyre legislation
When it comes to legislation affecting the tyre industry it is a tug of war between “rules are rules” and “rules are made to be broken.” As readers of our Tyrepress.com e-Newsletter will already know, the events of recent weeks have provided us with some bizarre examples of this kind of contrary logic in action. When Carl Steele from Lincolnshire was found guilty of causing in excess of a quarter of million pounds worth of environmental damage during a two year tyre dumping stint, you could be forgiven for thinking the justice system would force him to pay his debt to society.
Continue ReadingRhineland removes non-clean oil tyres from German market
At the end of 2011 Rhineland became the first German federal state (after Baden-Württemberg in 2010) to carry out investigations into the content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in motor vehicle tyres. The results were published on 12 December 2011. Two of the 19 tyres tested exceeded the limit and show that extender oils were used which do not meet the EU requirements. The offending types of tyres were reportedly removed from the market as a result of not meeting the legal requirements.
Continue ReadingEuropean Commission publishes updated labelling regulation
Just under a year before its mandatory introduction, the European Commission has published its second regulation (1235/2011) paving the way for the implementation of tyre labelling requirements. Regulation 1222/2009 introduces labelling requirements detailing the display of information on fuel efficiency, wet grip and external rolling noise of tyres. According to the ETRMA, which has been involved in consultation on the legislation, the regulation aims to “increase the safety and the environmental and economic efficiency of road transport by promoting fuel-efficient and safe tyres with low noise levels.”
Continue ReadingBridgestone against MOT changes
Bridgestone has added its voice to the argument against the proposed changes to the MOT test schedule, suggesting that the potential 2012 change in the interval from one to two years could compromise road safety. Andy Dingley, communications manager at Bridgestone UK, said: “We know that a large proportion of motorists do not check their tyres regularly, and the MOT has proven to be very effective in highlighting tyre problems. The decision to change the MOT interval to two years throws up a lot of issues, primarily the inevitable increase in mileage between tyre checks.
Continue ReadingETRMA: Non REACH compliant tyres still entering Europe
On 16 October ETRMA (European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers' Association) announced the results of its second round of tyre testing examining REACH compliance of tyres found within Europe. ETRMA’s results show that roughly 10 per cent of the sample failed to comply with the clean oil legislation, around the same proportion as failed the last set of tests held earlier this year. However while ETRMA raised concerns about both compliance and enforcement of REACH regulations, some of the companies named in the report have already responded to accusations of compliance failure by raising questions of their own about the way in which the sample was selected. ETRMA’s second testing campaign was carried out between April and September 2011 on a sample of 94 tyres available for sale to EU consumers in several of the largest national tyre markets. These tyres were all produced in late 2010 and 2011 in 50 factories located in 11 countries, and are being sold in the EU under 51 brand names (these include 31 brands not tested in the first round). The first round of tyre compliance tests the ETRMA conducted took place in March 2011 and followed a similar approach.
Continue ReadingITMA offers help with tyre labelling compliance
Described by some as one of the biggest changes to affect the tyre industry in recent years, much ballyhooed new tyre labelling regulations for car and truck tyres will come into force from 1 November 2012. The regulations are designed to provide consumers with information on the tyre’s fuel efficiency, wet grip and external rolling noise so they are able to make a more informed choice when selecting new tyres. but they also mean that manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers alike would do to get their houses in order well in advance of the deadline.
Continue ReadingTyre convictions at a four year high
The number court convictions related to d driving on defective tyres in England and Wales is at a four year high, according to the Ministry of Justice and the Home Office. TyreSafe has released details of the figures which show that in 2010, 10,475 motorists were successfully convicted – almost 1,000 more than the previous year. The figures highlight the scale of the problem of illegal tyres in the UK, especially as they do not take into account tyre related matters dealt with by the police at the roadside.
Continue ReadingRMI "concerned" over possible higher speed limit
Responding to recent speculation that the Government are considering raising the speed limit to 80 miles per hour on motorways, John Ball, Retail Motor Industry (RMI) MOT chairman, commented: "If cars are allowed to go faster there will be an increased need for a rigorous MOT test."
Continue ReadingCRIA: Chinese tyre market will be ‘tested’ in 2H 2011
Analysts believe that China’s tyre industry will face a severe test in the second half of this year. According to the China Rubber Industry Association (CRIA) statistics, in the first six months of 2011 member companies’ tyre production totalled 128 million units, of which 107 million were radial tyres. This represents year-on-year growth of 1.6 […]
Continue ReadingWTO upholds US import tariffs on Chinese produced tyres
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has upheld the US government’s decision to impose 35 per cent import tariffs on Chinese produced passenger car tyres in September 2009. Two years later these have been lowered to 25 per cent, as initially planned. However, the Chinese authorities maintain that the original ruling has seriously harmed Chinese producers and the decision to uphold it will “intensify their difficulties.”
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