Experts Call For Tougher Tyre Regulations

[Jason[98.EL]]

It could be interesting I can see prices of tyres going through the roof and we see more unroadworthy cars on the road due to some not being able to get new tyres

Taken from carpoint

Tyre company says Australia at risk if it doesn't adopt new EU tyre policy
Australia is at risk of becoming a dumping ground for cheap, low quality tyres if it does not adopt the European Union's strict new regulations on car tyres.At least that's the message from leading tyre maker, Michelin.


From November 2012, the EU will require rating labels that make clear tyres' levels of grip, noise and air pollution to be attached to aftermarket tyres and new cars at their point of sale. According to current estimates, 30 per cent of the tyres on sale in Europe today would not meet the new standards – and 70 per cent would not meet even stricter standards to be introduced in 2016. North America is planning to adopt the EU policy at the same intervals.

Michelin Vice President Gary Guthrie told the Carsales Network that Australia is at risk of being targeted by manufacturers of cheap, low quality tyres if those tyres can no longer be sold in the EU and North America.

"The EU and North America are in the process of introducing the new regulations, Japan already has the new regulations, so Australia is at risk of not only being left behind but in fact having more low quality tyres than it does currently," he said.

"The Australian Government is yet to make clear its intentions about adopting the EU policy, and time is running out because the industry needs to be warned about such a dramatic change, so they can introduce tyres that meet the new rules."

Guthrie insisted it was a not ploy for the industry to sell tyres at a premium.


"In fact the contrary may be true.. If every tyre on the market meets these new regulations, it will effectively drive down the cost of good quality tyres. People still buy on price, only this time customers will have a much more transparent way of finding out about what they're buying.

"At the end of the day if the consumer is better informed they'll make a better choice. If they still decide to choose a cheap tyre even though they're sacrificing safety, well that's their choice but at least they're doing it knowing what they're giving up," Guthrie said.


The Michelin man said tyres have always been key to vehicle safety but the widespread introduction of stability control made the role of tyres even more crucial than ever before. A car's stability control system relies on tyres to determine the level of grip with the road before it can intervene and apply the brakes to prevent a skid.

"As we all know, the tyre is the only point of contact between the driver and the road and has a massive impact on the safety of the car," Guthrie said.


"But more than ever before, carmakers tune their vehicle's suspension and stability control systems to the tyre to be able to reach these new levels of safety that we're achieving. And customers can undo that in a flash by fitting poor quality tyres. The unfortunate thing is most customers don't know how to distinguish the difference between good and bad tyres. The public need to be aware of the difference between a good tyre and a not-so-good tyre."

The chief executive of the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, Andrew McKellar, told the Carsales Network the industry was supportive of the proposed EU regulations.

"We don't want Australia to become a dumping ground for sub-standard tyres," he said.


"Tyres are fundamental to vehicle safety and unfortunately in Australia the majority of the motoring public perhaps aren't aware of just how crucial that is. Having a good set of tyres can save your life so the more information a consumer has, the better,"McKellar stated.


The FCAI is yet to lobby the Australian government about the new EU tyre rules McKellar revealed, but said: "as a general policy we tend to align ourselves with European regulations".

"Customarily, policies that are introduced in Europe flow to cars sold here anyway, but the issue of tyres is unique and there is potential for sub-standard tyres to be sold here if they're not regulated against."

Ironically, the least safe tyres are currently not covered under the EU guidelines – there is no policy yet on retreaded tyres or on tyres made for older (pre-1990) vehicles, but the EU is drafting guidelines to cover them.

"Given that average age of cars is higher in Australia than it is in Europe and North America, perhaps consideration should be given to expanding the regulations to cover tyres for older cars in Australia," McKellar said.

Excluded from the 2012 EU requirements are:
• temporary spare tyres (space savers)
• tyres made for rims smaller than 10-inches
• tyres made for rims larger than 24-inches
• race tyres and heavy duty offroad tyres
• retreaded tyres (proposal being drafted)
• tyres made for vehicles built before October 1990 (proposal being drafted)