Stopping power
New EU regulation to ensure tyres meet required performance down to the 1.6mm limit
New EU. Regulations aim to ensure that all tyres work even when worn to legal limit.
As tread depth reduces, the ability of the tyre to grip in wet weather is often reduced.
The latest regulations aim to provide driver confidence and improve road safety.
Stopping power
Drivers in the EU can now buy tyres knowing they’ll meet regulatory minimum performance standards for wet weather braking, even when worn to the minimum legal tread depth.
A new regulation in the EU (R117-04) mean tyres sold across the channel and beyond must be tested to ensure they’ll meet the same minimum wet weather braking requirement.
Previously, the regulations only stipulated minimum braking performance when tyres were new.
However, while there’s no indication of adoption in the UK, manufacturers supply standardised products across all markets.
Saving the world
The new measure is not just about improving road safety.
It is also because the EU wants to cut down on the environmental toll of tyres being scrapped or recycled prematurely.
If consumers have more faith in their tyres’ performance at lower tread depths, they’ll be less inclined to scrap them early.
Most road safety and motoring experts recommend replacing tyres when they fall below 3mm.
Minimum legal tread depth is 1.6mm across the EU and UK.
Breathe easy
Currently, according to estimates from tyre maker Michelin, 50% of car tyres are removed and replaced before they’ve reached a residual tread depth of 3mm.
Michelin says the application of the new regulation has the potential to reduce tyre consumption across Europe by a whopping 128 million units.
This means a commensurate drop in CO2 emissions amounting to 6.6 million metric tonnes.
If the measure was implemented globally, says Michelin, the numbers would be even more staggering.
They believe there’d be 400 million fewer tyres fitted annually, with a CO2 reduction of 35 million metric tonnes, equivalent to six-months CO2 emissions from the city of New York, we’re told.
An Ernst & Young report from May 2017 when the EU was mulling over the changes, suggested that keeping tyres longer would potentially save consumers 7 billion euros (£5.9bn) annually.