Following the publication of the DfT’s Tyre Labelling Enforcement Consultation document during the last week, NTDA representatives have articulated their disappointment with the government’s conclusions – apparently representing the views of the larger part of the Tyre Industry Federation (TIF) board (see “DfT completes Tyre Labelling consultation” for more on this)
The UK government’s Department for Transport announced that it had concluded its consultation on the enforcement mechanism for European tyre labelling legislation which began on 10 April and ran for around six weeks. As a result, the National Measurement Office (NMO) will now be basing its enforcement mechanism on a risk-based process using measures including criminal sanctions despite widespread tyre industry support for civil sanctions too. However, questions remain about exactly what this might mean in practice and – as we have seen – some will be disappointed that calls for civil penalties to be part of the enforcement mechanism appear to have gone unheard.
On 5 October transport authorities in New Zealand introduced the EnergyWise approval mark to help identify fuel efficient tyres and to help encourage consumers to ask for Energywise-approved tyres. The mark is also designed to give reassurance about the performance of the wet braking performance of tyres.
Here in Europe and in other major markets such as Japan, Korea and the US tyre labelling has been the subject of intense discussion for some time. However, if the local news reports are anything to go by, the UAE appears to be taking the concept to the next level with the introduction of smart RFID “tags” which feature both an RFID chip and visual label including a QR code.
Bridgestone representatives at the launch of the new Firestone Destination HP SUV tyre in Valencia were particularly keen to stress the importance of the event beyond the product itself. While the product, representing an important segment for the company’s second line brand, provided plenty of the technological improvements usually expected of a new flagship tyre in metrics such as dry and wet braking, rolling resistance and noise, this was also a “rejuvenation” of a name that has kept a relatively lower profile outside USA in recent years.
In this month’s magazine (July 2014), as well as our the conclusion of our comprehensive review of the Essen Show (see page 40 onwards) plus features on manufacturing (from page 24) and batteries (page 8+), we report on the potential “Return of US tyre import tariffs” (on page 30). Reading this article, you could be forgiven for thinking you had stepped into a time warp to 2009 where proceedings followed a very similar course. This time round, the potential implementation of a second round of import US import tariffs aimed squarely at China have fermented rumours about whether anything similar is likely to happen in Europe. So will it?
All sizes in Avon Tyres’ flagship range now carry an ‘A’ label rating for wet grip, reports Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Europe. This rating upgrade comes courtesy of a reformulated compound and the utilisation of a high-dispersion silica tread. Previously the line-up, which includes W and Y speed rated fitments for 17 to 19-inch rims, included both ‘A’ and ‘B’ wet grip rated tyres.
Toyo Tires has announced that a further 12 fitments of its popular and effective Open Country M/T tyre have gained Professional Off Road (POR) accreditation, allowing them to be listed and sold outside of current EU labelling requirements. The tyre is already hugely popular with many off-road professionals, including multiple Dakar and Baja winner, Robby Gordon. The tyre is also being used this year by the Isuzu UK Works Rally Team, on appropriate events.
Following the news that the government is consulting the market on the full implementation and enforcement of tyre labelling legislation in the UK, the NTDA has shared its views on both the process and its response to the consultation.
According to the NTDA, the government consultation proposal can be summarised like this: “The department has appointed a tyre enforcement authority (the National Measurement Office) which will be responsible for organising a risk-based market surveillance approach and for the application of appropriate enforcement measures that impose the minimum burdens necessary to meet our EU obligations.
The UK government has initiated a market consultation on the subject of tyre labelling. The consultation opened on the 10th April and runs until 11:45pm on the 23rd May. The news comes almost 18 months after tyre labelling came into effect in Europe and almost two years since the market formally started communicated labelling details between the various parts of the business. In response industry bodies such as the NTDA have been quick to urge members and other tyre industry professionals to participate in the open consultation regarding the UK enforcement of the tyre labelling regulations.
Showcasing significant technological and performance breakthroughs, Falken launched its latest Azensis and Sincera products at the Ascari Race Resort near Malaga, Spain. Tyrepress took the opportunity to speak to Isamu Ishida, managing director, Falken Tyre Europe, and Matt Smith, managing director UK & Ireland, about the direction of Falken post Sumitomo and Goodyear’s Dunlop joint venture, having sampled the benefits of the new tyres at Ascari.
Recently the China Rubber Industry Association (CRIA) gave word that trials of a new eco tyre specification (standard number XXZB/LT-102-2014) began in China on 1 March. Chemical manufacturer Lanxess, which is currently participating in the CRIA-hosted China Rubber Conference in Qingdao, has provided additional information on the specification: it says the Green Tire Technology Specification is based on the tyre label introduced in the European Union in November 2012.
Over 100,000 articles across 205 brands are now under management in CAM’s Online Tyre Catalogue (OTC), facilitating the entry of many overseas manufacturers and importers into the UK. According to the company, the common tyre platform is helping companies outside Europe find agents and distribution outlets as a result.
With an impressive 44 dimensions ranging from 16 to 20-inchs in both W and Y speed categories, the Green-Max line produced by Shandong Linglong Tyre Co. Ltd. is already showing signs of expansion. The latest developments come in the form of several new high performance dimensions.
The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. has used its presence at the Geneva Motor Show as the launchpad for three new production tyres (one summer and two winter) as well as the showcasing of its Aero Y electric vehicle and associated BluEarth EV concept tyre. At the centre of the launch was a new edition to its fuel-efficient “BluEarth” tyre brand for passenger cars in Europe and Asia, which will be introduced from this spring. Most “BluEarth-A” sizes have been awarded the European C grade for rolling resistance and A for wet performance when it comes to labelling.
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