LEGISLATION
A number of tyre trading businesses have formed a collective with the aim of “defending the freedom of tyre trading within and outside the European Union, and also to preserve and protect its values expressed in the Charter of Fundamental Rights.” The new association, which is called LETA (European Liberal Traders Association) is based in Milan, but reports that it welcomes membership from businesses anywhere in Europe.
Michelin has called for the forthcoming tyre labelling legislation to be at the forefront of the battle against road produced carbon emissions.
Giving a keynote address at the Low Vehicle Carbon Partnership's annual conference at the Excel Exhibition Centre in London on Thursday 10 May, Michelin UK's head of government and public affairs Darren Lindsey called for the tyre industry to take the lead in helping consumers make informed choices about the safest and most fuel efficient tyres on the market. He argued that by supporting proposals for new tyre labelling legislation, the automotive industry can play its role in arming consumers with the knowledge required to drive forward a meaningful reduction in road-based carbon emissions.
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With just two months to go before Tyre Labelling starts appear in the market, TIF is offering its advice. The EU tyre labelling Regulation comes into effect for tyre manufacturers from 1 July. From that date retailers can expect to see certain deliveries of tyres arriving with the new “consumer advice” label affixed. The full impact for retail premises is 1 November, when retailers have to pass on this information to consumers. That leaves just 6 months to prepare for the biggest change in tyre retailing for years.
Don’t be ignorant about tyre labelling – learn from the dummies at TyreSafe. The McIntyres, the safety organisation’s very own family of crash test dummies, star in a new animation that spearheads TyreSafe’s new drive to inform motorists about the regulations coming into force in November.
Tomorrow, Lanxess will officially inaugurate its expanded butyl rubber facility in Zwijndrecht, Belgium. One of the guests at the ceremony will be Belgian European parliament member Ivo Belet. Ahead of the opening ceremony, Belet shared his views on the European tyre label, an issue closely linked to eco-friendly, or green tyres – a key beneficiary of the increased butyl rubber output in Zwijndrecht.
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.
Tyre retailers will soon have a major new profit opportunity as legislation covering the fitment and testing of TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems) comes into force later this year. And suppliers including Apaseal/Tyresure, Autogem and Rema Tip Top will be exhibiting at Brityrex International to demonstrate the technical aspects of the systems and the commercial potential available.
Which? magazine published its latest ranking of summer tyres in its April edition. Testing 14” and 16” sizes, the magazine gave rankings to 26 tyre models in total, ranking them out of five for dry and wet braking and handling, wet grip on straights and bends, noise, fuel consumption and wear. It also discussed the impact of energy labels, to be placed on passenger car tyres from November, with a Which?-conducted survey suggesting that most people have yet to hear about the tyre label – the magazine spoke to 1,291 members of the public and 2,742 Which? members and “nine out of 10… weren’t aware of the scheme”. In addition to this, the consumer advice magazine said that “only half the people…who were aware…were able to identify the three ratings that will be included.”
Those in Scotland and particularly Aberdeenshire may not agree, but normally April marks the end of winter and the coming of spring. In tyre markets across Europe this often means the re-introduction and re-fitting of summer tyres that have been nestled in “hotels” during the cold months. In fact those running Goodyear Dunlop’s HiQ retail franchise twitter account began prompting consumers to change back to summer tyres on 26 March. There’s not room to get into a discussion on the whys and wherefores of this particular approach here. Instead let’s highlight something else the seasonal change brings with it – trade shows.
Say hello to ‘Terry the technician’. Goodyear Dunlop’s retail team has rolled out a new communication campaign strategy on tyre labelling to the direct dealer partners in its HiQ network, and will show the importance of reading labels through the activities of an imaginary tyre fitter.
Point-S has selected Autogem Motor Concepts as a supply partner to its UK network. Writing in a letter to members, company representatives explained that Autogem offers “a number of solutions to the Point-S network through [its] well established and competitive consumables programme”. In short this means, but is by no means limited to, the delivery of TPMS repair and service equipment and products.
Danish firm Starco wears several hats. The company was once best known for specialising in tyres for wheelbarrows and hand-powered vehicles, and during its 50 years in the business it has also gained a reputation as a manufacturer – initially of steel wheels and small tyres, and very recently as an industrial tyre maker – the company’s Solid tyre factory in Sri Lanka is now in operation. And another, very important hat Starco wears is that of wholesaler.
TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems) will soon become a legally required feature of the MOT test. From 1 November 2012 all new passenger car models must be fitted with TPMS and a non-working TPMS system will has already been subject to advisory on the MOT test from 1 January 2012. As from January next year, all taxis will be required to have the TPMS system working to pass the MOT and this will then become the same for all TPMS fitted vehicles as of the start of 2015.
Leading tyre sector software firms will be on hand at Brityrex International 2012 in Manchester, offering show visitors the latest technology to improve the efficiency of their businesses. Cam Systems, MAM Software and TEAM Systems for example will each demonstrate their own solutions to the imminent tyre labelling legislation, due to come into force in November.
Long-term Brityrex exhibitor TEAM Systems, an ever present at the show since 1992, will mark the occasion by celebrating 20 years as an IT supplier to the tyre and fast fit sector. The latest version of its popular TEAM software containing a number of exciting new features will be on display, as will the company’s tyre labelling facility, which will be offered free of charge to existing customers.
"Vehicle manufacturers must comply with European legislation and make their technical information available to independent garages" said Stuart James, Independent Garage Association (IGA) Director, speaking to fleet operators at the BVRLA Technical and Operational Management Forum.
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