Noisy tyres to be banned

[Tony]

Background

Under the directive 92/23/EEC tyres can only be supplied into the market if they conform to certain requirements. Under a further directive- 2001/43/EEC- the requirements were extended to cover the noise tyres were permitted to make in contact with the road surface.

 

Compliance schedule

2009: all except C1d and C1e (not sure what they are?)

2010: all tyres over 185mm and up to 215mm width

2011: all tyres over 215mm width

 

All tyres without the prefix "s" denoting sound are not permitted for sale after the above dates.

 

wim says: With all the various fields that should be improved regarding tyre safety i find it unbelievable "sound" is an issue that needs such attention, how about increasing the minimum legal depth to 2mm rather than the current 1.6mm, ok the unregulated noise may disturb the odd politician during tiffing but the absent sound of cars hitting trees surely would counter this

[Mat]

so what about 4x4 tyres.....id like to see them make them quiet

[parthiban]

So what kind of tyres are we talking about? Are these special tyres that would be banned, or normal tyres that we could have on our cars now?

[Tony]

According to the announcement from the BTMA + NTDA there are "minor exceptions" but this wasn't explained.

 

Apparently this is for all tyres including 4x4 since the rule is tyre width not type or intended market. The tyre manufacturer has to produce compliant products and all tyre centres need to sell non "s" marked tyres by the dates i displayed.