Since the introduction of the of end-of-life vehicle directive banning lead wheel balancing weights in mid-2006, tyre manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers alike have been bracing themselves for the introduction of the most stringent requirements on tyre rolling resistance, noise, wet grip and product labelling the market has ever seen.
Nevertheless, as important as these rules undoubtedly are, none of them take effect until 2011 for the original equipment market and 2012 for replacement market sales – and even this will be a phased introduction. The problem is that before these laws take effect there are at least two other major piece of legislation set to hit the markets. There is the so-called clean oil requirement, which bans the use of aromatic oils in the production of new tyres from Jan. 1, 2010, but again even this law offers the manufacturers it most directly affects another seven months of preparation time before they have to face the music. And what’s more, leading industry sources report that all European manufacturers either are or will be comfortably ready in time for the Jan. 1 deadline. The question is: were you aware that there is yet another bill on the European statute books that is scheduled for enforcement in less than six months?
Directive 2001/43/EEC, or s-marking legislation as it is more commonly known, represents the evolution of the earlier EC regulation or E-mark. In 2001 the European Parliament decided to bolt on noise requirements in addition to the existing requirements. Eight years later, with little publicity on the subject, introduction of this law is set to take effect on Oct. 1, 2009. The details of what is involved in the 22 pages of European law are far from clear, and at the time of going to press T&A was receiving more phonecalls seeking clarification on this than any other subject.
Here’s how we understand it: In the first instance the legislation forces products up to 185 section width to comply with enhanced noise emission standards, with tyres of 210 millimetres-plus width following a year later in October 2010. Sizes larger than this will follow a year later in 2011. At this stage it is worth pointing out that, according to the ETRMA, the first phase covers tyres of any business segment (passenger car, truck and buss etc). However, the 2010 and 2011 deadlines for up to and over 210 width tyres apparently only refers to passenger car products. Incidentally, the latest round of legislation (which includes labelling rules, etc.) brings with it new regulations covering truck and bus tyre fitments.
To those selling or wholesaling the tyres the technical details of what decibel limits are being brought in are perhaps less important than the implications. And in this respect the rule has one very clear outworking – from October tyres covered by the legislation will have to have an “S” stamped at the end of its seven-digit code on the sidewall and those that don’t will be illegal. To clarify (and I am indebted to Colin Smith of Sinton’s Tyres for elucidating the labyrinthine legislation on this point) this means your stock needs to have two seven-digit marks – one for the e-mark and one for the s-mark. (Tyres & Accessories/Staffordshire, U.K.)
