New
laws banning older tyres could come into force by early 2020
Would the tyre age limit eventually extend to cars?
The current UK Government proposals focus on the age effect on tyres
fitted to large vehicles, like buses and HGVs, and whether older tyres
should not be used on large vehicles. Whether the idea of an "older
tyre ban" for cars might follow at some stage is clearly possible.
Concern is growing over the lack of an age limit on tyres fitted
to cars in the UK
Whilst tyre wear for modern cars tends to be higher because most
do high mileages, generally classic cars don't do large annual mileages
so the wear rate of tyres fitted to classic cars is much lower. Consequently
classic cars are much more likely to be seen running on old tyres.
But what are "old tyres"?
The suggested age limit for tyres is 10 years which could provide
a legal limit whereas other sources suggest that tyres of over 7 or
8 years old can show signs of hardening of the rubber and consequential
handling and safety concerns.
Tyres never stop vulcanising, they just get harder and harder
over time which means they can have all the tread remaining but because
of the hardening of the rubber and reduced flexibility of the rubber,
that leads to reduced grip and consequently reduced roadholding and
braking performance, particularly in the wet.
How to read the tyre wall markings to find the age of a tyre
A survey carried out earlier this year by the Federation of British
Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC) revealed that 33% of members surveyed
could not tell the age of a tyre from the codes on the sidewall of
a tyre. They
should see our guide
to reading the markings on tyre sidewalls.
More
See our previous news item in February 2019 on calls for the maximum
age of tyres to be limited
More
Tyre safety concerns with classic cars
See our news item released in November 2018. More
Posted: 190623 |
|
The
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has announced that
"new laws banning older tyres on large vehicles to
improve road safety could be introduced later this year. Tyres
aged 10 years and older would be banned from use on buses, coaches,
lorries and minibuses in new proposals being consulted on
from today (23rd June 2019). If supported, the new rules
could be in force by early 2020.
Road Safety Minister Michael Ellis said "our priority is
keeping people safe on our roads, and we are taking action to
reduce the number of people killed or injured. There is increasing
evidence that age affects the safety of tyres, which is why
I think older tyres should not be used on large vehicles.
The consultation, which runs for 10 weeks, asks whether
older tyres should be banned on buses, coaches, lorries and
minibuses as well as whether this ban should be extended to
taxis and private hire vehicles. It follows other measures the
Government has put into place since 2012.
Bus operators have been advised not to use older tyres at the
front of their vehicles. Inspections of 130,000 buses by the
DVSA since 2017 showed only 0.06 per cent were in breach of
the guidance. The DVSA also updated its guidance on maintaining
roadworthiness saying tyres aged 10 years and older should not
be used on the front axles of heavy goods vehicles, as well
as buses and coaches.
A growing body of evidence includes research commissioned by
the Department for Transport and published last week, which
shows ageing tyres suffer corrosion which could cause them to
fail. The evidence also includes reports from two fatal crashes
– one involving a coach on the A3 in 2012, and another
on the M5 in 2017, involving a heavy goods vehicle.
The consultation
follows continued work to establish the impact of age on tyre
performance. Today’s consultation comes ahead of a
refreshed Road Safety Statement and two-year action plan, which
will be published shortly."
See
DVSA report |
A
few classic car traders have shown worrying lack of awareness
of tyre ageing
Although over recent years the awareness of the ageing effects
on tyre rubber and
the consequent safety implications from reduced grip, braking
and roadholding are better known, there have been some alarming
cases of ignorance or worse. Reports |
Growing
call for an age limit on cars in the UK
Concerns are growing over the need for regulations imposing
limits on the age of tyres fitted to cars in the UK. For classic
car enthusiasts that highlights several issues, not least the
effects of of tyres ageing and how an age limit on tyres could
be policed? See alongside. |
For classic
car enthusiasts the growing concerns with a tyre age limit highlight
several issues, not least the two below: |
|
If an age limit
is introduced how would it be policed?
With most classic cars becoming eligible for MOT exemption,
if owners decide to self declare their vehicle a Vehicle of
Historic Interest (VHI) and claim MOT exemption they may then
never get an annual inspection. Of course an MOT exempt vehicle
can always have a voluntary MOT test or a similar inspection
and many responsible bodies recommend they do so. Many classic
car owners can also see an annual test or inspection is a
wise precaution because even a diligent owner can miss safety
issues when maintaining and inspecting their classic car.
|
What
age limit is suggested?
Douglal Cawley of Longstone Tyres suggests 10 years as an
upper limit unless storage is or has been perfect - adding
"the people who make them store them best", but in
such cases "they should be sold no more than 5 years after
they were produced". The Department for Transport has at
this stage indicated "it would not be drawn either way
regarding age limits on classic car tyres". The results
of its tyre age test backed by DVSA and Traffic Commissioners
for Great Britain will be published later in 2019. |
|
