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Question of the Month: Should Tyre Age Be Inspected in the MOT Test?

August’s Question of the Month on tyrepress.com asks readers whether the recent news that a coroner has written to the DfT recommending more attention be paid to tyre age means that tyre age should be inspected as part of MOT tests. So far, the overwhelming majority seems to think it should, with only one reader suggesting tyre age should stay off the MOT agenda. To lodge your vote, see the Question of the Month box on the tyrepress.com homepage.

9th August 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

MOT Rule Change Could Risk Lives

Following the recent news that Gloucestershire coroner Alan Crickmore called on the Department for Transport (DfT) to pay more attention to tyre age during MOT inspections, the NTDA has reported that it has also written to DfT on the subject of statutory testing. While not on the subject of tyre ageing, the NTDA’s letter referred to the fact that some quarters are suggesting that the currently annual mandatory roadworthiness test be made a bi-annual requirement. The DfT’s mailbag is set to get fatter still when Tyre Industry Federation (TIF) are reportedly due to put pen to paper on the subject as well. According to the latest NTDA e-zine email newsletter, the NTDA raised the matter at last month's TIF board meeting. A template is reportedly available for members who wish to make their own views felt on this very safety critical subject.

2nd August 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Bill Wright Dies

Bill Wright, retired director of Universal Tyres, died last month shortly after his 89th birthday. He was an active NTDA council member and also a trustee of the association until 2008. He passed away on 25 July following a heart attack, just five months after the death of his wife of 65 years, Eileen. The funeral will be held at St Martins Church, Eynsford, Kent on Wednesday 11 August at 14:00. The family have requested only family flowers, but donations maybe made to the Alzheimer’s Society, via Welham Jones Funeral Directors – 156 London Road, Sevenoaks, TN13 1DJ.

2nd August 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Should VOSA Call Time on Old Tyres?

Editorial/Comment

The news that Alan Crickmore, a Gloucestershire coroner has written to the Secretary of State for Transport (Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP) calling for a ban on vehicle tyres that are more than 10 years old lends new support to a cause that has been a topic of discussion within the industry for some time. The case Crickmore referred to was the death of Nazma Shaheen, whose Toyota Lucida was travelling northbound along the M5 when a tyre burst and the car clipped a kerb and rolled over, throwing Mrs Shaheen clear of the vehicle on 6 May 2009. Tyre age was said to have precipitated the accident. What stood out for me the first time I read about this case, apart from the tragic circumstances that initially caused the coroner’s involvement, was the fact that this was the first time that a completely non tyre-related party has publically called for an overhaul of the tyre aging rules.

27th July 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Clampco Offering ‘Full Range of Workshop Consumables’

Clampco UK reports that is aiming to offer a full range of workshop consumables and tools specifically aimed at the tyre/exhaust fast fit industry. The extensive range includes exhaust fittings, tyre repair materials, wheel balance weights, workshop tools, workshop consumables, work and safety wear, safety and hygiene products and more.

21st July 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Point S (UK) Aiming for 100 Members, Recruitment Drive at Brityrex 2010

The latest addition to the influential Point S European buying and marketing group – Point S (UK) – is set to embark on a recruitment drive at this October’s Brityrex International show in Manchester. Independent tyre retailers will be the focus of a membership drive by the alliance between the powerful French Point S group and UK Tyres, the network of 13 independent retailers which has signed up to become the British arm of Point S. Point S currently operates in 20 European countries and has more than 1,900 independently-owned tyre retail outlets in membership and sales of over 11 million tyres per year.

UK Tyres currently has 13 member companies with a combined total of 56 retail outlets but Sunderland is confident that figure will grow quickly towards the 100 member companies targeted over the next 12 months.

19th July 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Coroner Calls for Tyre Aging Law

A coroner from Gloucestershire has re-ignited the tyre aging debate, by calling for a ban on vehicle tyres that are more than 10 years old. Alan Crickmore has reportedly committed to write to the Transport Secretary calling for MOT after hearing how a mother of two died when the 13 year-old tyres fitted to hear car failed, causing a high speed crash.

Nazma Shaheen’s M-registered Toyota Lucida was travelling northbound along the M5 when the tyre burst and veered right and then left onto the hard shoulder. It then clipped a kerb and rolled over, throwing Mrs Shaheen clear of the vehicle on May 6 last year. Recording a verdict of accidental death, the coroner said he did not think she would have died if the tyre had been newer.

13th July 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

UK Right to Repair Group Winds Up

The UK R2RC (Right to Repair) strategy group has been disbanded, having decided it has achieved the goals it set when it was formed in February 2007. The decision was made at a recent Automotive Aftermarket Liaison Group (AALG) meeting, from which the UK element of the campaign was born, that R2RC end. The AALG accepted that recommendation.

Jim Mazza, the chairman of the campaign, said: “The motor vehicle specific regulations and guidelines introduced on 1 June 2010, which will run until 2023, are a fantastic outcome and far beyond my expectations. These coupled with other European legislation and directives provide strong protection for the independent automotive aftermarket and ensure an ongoing competitive environment from which the motorist will benefit. The UK Strategy Group is very satisfied with the outcome of the campaign.”

5th July 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

The NTDA Embraces Changes

When Peter Gaster took on the Chairmanship of the NTDA for the second time three years ago (the first time was in '93), it was with the express intention of conducting a root and branch review of the workings of the association with a view to modernisation. At the association's recent AGM, the recommendations arising from this review were accepted and Gaster stepped down to allow David White to take the Chairman's post.

18th June 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Tyre Recovery Association Explains Recycling Fee with Point of Sale Materials

The Tyre Recovery Association is taking steps to improve public understanding of the ‘green fee’ charged by dealers to dispose of old tyres when new rubber is fitted. A selection of free point of sale materials posters and leaflets focus on the wide range of uses and applications for recycled tyre materials, such as synthetic sports pitches, children’s playground surfaces and fuel sources for cement kilns.

9th June 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Kirkby and BKT on Show at Brityrex 2010

Kirkby Tyres and Indian manufacturer BKT have announced that they are joining forces at October’s Brityrex International exhibition to promote their new UK distribution agreement. In addition show organisers ECI International have announced that the Tyre Industry Federation (TIF) has confirmed it will be present with a member’s lounge and business briefings during the show, which will run on 5, 6 and 7 October.

8th June 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Birmingham Trading Standards: 90% of Part Worn Tyres are Illegal

Birmingham City Council’s trading standards officers recently found that nine out of ten part worn tyres examined in an inspection failed to meet the minimum legal standards. In response industry body TyreSafe is publicising the results of the investigation in order to raise awareness of what it calls “the high levels of risk associated with buying part worn tyres.”

According to Birmingham City Council’s trading standards officers, tyres which had nails embedded, illegal tread depth, exposed cords, inadequate markings and one tyre which was 17 years old were among the failures. The investigation comes just a few weeks after TyreSafe found that more than one in ten drivers was more likely to buy part worn tyres compared with 12 months ago.

The investigation formed part of an ongoing programme by Birmingham City Council to target sales of part worn tyres. This year was its ninth annual investigation and saw it buy 10 tyres from retailers across the city. Over the course of the entire programme, the team bought and tested more than 190 part worn tyres with 25 per cent found to have “some form of structural defect.” In this year’s survey 30 per cent of tyres had structural failings including illegal tread depth and a nail embedded in the casing while 90 per cent did not have the correct markings required by law, which identify them as a part worn tyre.

3rd June 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Autosafe Aims to Reduce Tyre Disposal Costs

UK service and repair network Autosafe has expanded its range of member benefits to include what it calls “a timely special offer on tyre disposal, designed to help garages at a time when contractors are charging a fortune for their removal or, in some areas of the country, refusing to take them at all.” Autosafe reports that it has also negotiated some preferential rates on disposal of all hazardous waste for its members. Autosafe marketing manager John Morton said: “The IFA is made up of independent regionally based businesses…The tyre disposal arrangement is just one example of the ways in which we aim to help them work smarter, but leave them free to choose.”

28th May 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Speakers Confirmed for Tyre Recovery Association Forum Day

The Tyre Recovery Association (TRA) has confirmed the speakers for its forthcoming annual forum day on Friday 9 July. This year’s line up is said to include “a wide range of discussions from some of the industry’s leading organisations.” The theme for the event is ‘Regulation and Opportunity’ and will look at the many challenges and infrastructure threats faced by the industry, along with case studies from companies who have overcome many of these issues. Representatives from tyre manufacturers, retailers, law enforcement officials, collectors and re-processors will attend the event, helping to ensure a lively discussion takes place which benefits the entire industry.

“The programme of speakers we have managed to secure for the forum day will make it of great interest and benefit to everyone associated with the tyre industry,” comments Peter Taylor OBE, TRA secretary general. “Not only will delegates be able to hear about the future of tyre recycling but examples of best practice will be shared and participants will be able to join in discussions and share their own thoughts and experiences.”

28th May 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Irish Associations in Waste Tyre Crisis Talks

Representatives of the Tyre Recovery Activity Compliance Scheme (TRACS), Tyre Waste Management (TWM), the Irish Tyre Industry Association (ITIA) and the Tyre Wholesalers and Retailers Association (TWRA) had to face crunch talks with the Irish government Department of Environment on 20 May. According to Irish publication Tyre Trade Journal (TTJ), the associations were summoned following the broadcast of a Prime Time Investigates programme, which screened three days earlier.

21st May 2010/by Tyrepress Editors