TYRES
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TYRES: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW For the past seven years, tyres sold in the UK and the rest of the EU have had to be appropriately labelled, showing clear information about fuel consumption, braking performance, wet grip and noise level. But will that change here if the UK leaves the European Union? Apparently not, is the answer. While the post-Brexit landscape still remains uncertain, the Tyre Industry Federation (TIF) understands the Department for Transport (DfT) intends to retain alignment with future evolutions of the EU tyre labelling regulations for UK, at least as far as the label itself is concerned. The rationale is to ensure a smoothly working market for tyres.
gave the following assurance: “Under the Withdrawal Act, direct EU law, such as The Tyre Labelling Regulation, will form part of UK domestic law after exit and hence the requirement to ensure tyres are labelled in accordance with 1222/2009 will continue to apply (at least until such time as the Government chooses to make changes).”
A document issued by the EU Commission early in the Brexit negotiations had given rise to concerns that the tyre labelling regulation would not apply post-Brexit. There were even suggestions the UK might strike out on its own with a Made-in-Britain labelling scheme. From an international tyre industry point of view this would clearly be extremely challenging.
The DfT has also given clarification regarding the validity of tyre labelling data sourced in the UK prior to EU-exit: “Our expectation is that provided labelling data is obtained according to the procedures set out in the regulation, it should not matter where the data is sourced. The obligation will be on the manufacturer to demonstrate that the data is sourced according to the test procedures set out in the regulation.”
However, the Department for Transport recently
That’s good news, at least, but with over 160 tyre
manufacturers worldwide, spending over £2600 million a year on research and development, and with more than 300 brands of car and truck tyres on sale in the UK sourced from over 45 countries around the world, the tyre market itself can be confusing to say the least. There are approximately 4,600 specialist tyre outlets in the UK. In addition, about 16,000 garages and other outlets also sell new tyres as part of a wider service offering. Four tyre manufacturers operate in the UK, with eight production sites between them, turning out approximately 15 million tyres per year for trucks, cars, vans and motorbikes. Indeed, there’s hardly a month goes by that a new product hasn’t been launched, so keeping abreast of what’s currently available in the market at any given time is essential for truck operators to ensure they have the best, most fuel efficient and safest tyre at their disposal. Over the next few pages, Export & Freight takes a look at the latest developments in tyre technology and what’s new on the market…
Continental’s Overview of European Winter Tyre Regulations To support fleet operators understanding of the latest regulatory requirements, Continental, technology company and manufacturer of premium tyres, is once again releasing an overview of the European regulations regarding winter equipment for trucks and buses. One of the biggest changes for this winter season is that Alpine symbol-marked tyres are becoming more relevant in several countries.
of now, all truck and bus tyres for steer and drive axle in sizes 17.5, 19.5 and 22.5 inch are available as Alpine symbol-certified variants.
In line with regulatory changes, Continental Tyres has completed the adaption of its portfolio: As
For safe driving with optimal traction even on damp or icy roads, Continental recommends
fitting trucks and buses with winter tyres on steer and drive axles for the cold winter season. Identified by the snowflake symbol on the tyre wall, the dedicated winter tyre portfolio by Continental easily outperforms M+S tyres and also significantly
exceeds the requirements of the Alpine symbol certification. For winter tyres to be labelled with the Alpine symbol, they have to pass a standard practical test defined in UN regulation 117 and exhibit suitability for winter use on snowy roads in a braking and traction comparison test. Tyres marked with M+S (Mud + Snow) provide a tread pattern or structure that is designed to deliver performance that exceeds that of a standard tyre in snowy conditions. The M+S label is not subject to a defined test procedure. The full document can be viewed and downloaded at http://www. continental-truck-tires.com/winter.
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