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Type-approval requirements for the general safety of motor vehicles and tyres

The Regulation on type-approval requirements for the general safety of motor vehicles and tyres (661/2009) has been adopted by the Council of Ministers on 22 June 2009, as part of the EC initiatives to reducing CO2 emissions.  
It marks a new step in recognizing the importance of promoting tyre performances integrated approach by considering both safety and environmental performance requirements in the same legislative text.

While setting ambitious targets, it provides the essential regulatory visibility for the next 10 years. It also gives legal certainty to Industry in order to be able to plan the necessary investments and to develop product offerings with ever increasing safety performances for road users and vehicles while reducing further their environmental impact.

This Regulation will introduce from November 2012 tyre safety and environmental performance requirements at unprecedented levels.

- Rolling resistance requirements

The regulation requires reductions in tyre rolling resistance levels in 2 different stages to be introduced in November 2012 and in November 2016.

For the 1st time, by setting lower rolling resistance requirements also for trucks tyres, the EU is anticipating CO2 provisions beyond the current European automotive policy targets.

- Tyre pressure monitoring sustems (TPMS)

Mandatory installation of occurate tyre pressure monitoring systems will apply from November 2012 to passenger cars. The technical specifications expected to be published in the course of 2010 through a commission regulation (comitology).

- Wet grip requirements

The Regulation sets minimum levels for passenger car tyre wet grip performance, helping to secure minimum braking properties, in conformity with the provision already present into UN/ECE Regulation 117.01.

- New rolling noise limits

Thre legislation requires further reductions in the rolling noise of tyres, as shown below

The Regulation whose adoption follows on from an agreement with the European Parliament at the first reading of the co-decision procedure, is directly applicable in all the Member States, creating a level playing field in the EU. The challenge will be for the 27 enforcement Authorities to ensure consistent and effective market surveillance.

Consumer’ information: labelling of tyres with respect to fuel efficiency and other essential parameters

FAQs

The European Commission Regulation 1222/2009 introduces mandatory tyre labelling based on integrated performances.
The regulation aims at increasing the safety and the economic and environmental efficiency of road transport by promoting safe and fuel-efficient tyres with low noise levels. It establishes also a framework for the provision of harmonised information on tyre parameters

All tyres produced after July 2012 and on sale in the EU from November 2012, either will bear a sticker or will be accompanied by a label to be displayed at points of sale.

Such information will at all times, be available for the customers through technical promotional material, including websites of the manufacturers. Are excluded retreaded tyres, off-road tyres and racing tyres.

The expected fuel savings from the increased use of fuel efficient tyres will indeed lead to saving an estimated 20 million tons of CO2 per year and 10 billion EUR of fuel per year.

The measure should also encourage tyre manufacturers to upgrade their products in a context of increased competition on the tyre market, by introducing a level playing field for all with the possibility for producers to benefit from product differentiation, not only based on prices but also on product quality. The consumers will have access to objective, reliable and comparable information on tyre parameters.

This new Regulation is a step further towards improving traffic safety and combating global warming.

Update 4 May 2010