EC issues draft regulation on TPMS, tyre noise, wet grip

ERJ staff report (DS)

Brussels -- the EC has published the long-awaited draft regulation on vehicle safety. This covers TPMS, tyre noise, tyre wet grip and tyre rolling resistance. New rules covering these aspect s of tyres are to be mandatory on all new cars from October 2012.

Low Rolling Resistance Tyres (LRRT) are to be obligatory from 2012. In order to avoid any negative impact on safety, explicit safety requirements are introduced alongside new standards on noise. The EC proposes introducing a grading and labelling scheme, making at least the minimum standard mandatory for both aftermarket and for vehicle and component type approval.

Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) will also be obligatory from 2012. The EC will impose rules which require higher accuracy than systems currenly commonly available and will establish technical standards and mandatory fitting requirements.

On Tyre noise, the EC has decided to implemenmt the recommendations of the FEHRL report with minor modifications. The EC is to propose tyre noise limit reductions of around 4dB(A), with the actual values depending on which of five width categories the tyre falls into. The EC stopped short of proposing just two width categories.

On wet grip, the EC said, "it is acknowledged that if additional requirements are introduced with regard to noise or rolling resistance, it is possible that some (cheaper) solutions to achieve better noise or rolling resistance could be detrimental to wet grip performance. The Commission intends to use UNECE Regulation 117 wet grip test for all new car tyres.

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Press release from EC

Main decisions (Executive summary) PF file

Main decisions (full version) PF file