The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986

Tyre Loads and Speed Ratings

25.—(1) This regulation applies—

(a) to a goods vehicle first used before 1st April 1987 in respect of which a plating certificate has been issued;

(b) to a vehicle first used on or after 1st April 1987, which is a goods vehicle, a bus or a trailer; and,

(c) from 1st April 1990 to every vehicle, whenever first used, which is a goods vehicle, a bus or a trailer.

(2) Each axle of a vehicle to which this regulation applies solely by virtue of paragraph 1(a) shall be equipped with tyres which, as respects strength, are designed and maintained adequately to support the maximum axle weight for that axle.

(3) Each axle of a vehicle to which this regulation applies by virtue of paragraph (1)(b) or (c) shall be equipped with tyres which are designed and maintained adequately to support the maximum axle weight for that axle when the vehicle is driven at the speed shown in column 3 in the Table in the item in which the vehicle is described in column 2 (the lowest relevant speed being applicable to a vehicle which is described in more than one item).

TABLE

(regulation 25(3))

1	2	3
Item	Class of Vehicle	Speed
1	A vehicle of a class for which a maximum speed is prescribed by the 1984 Act.	The speed so prescribed
2	An electrically propelled vehicle having a maximum speed less than 70 mph.	The maximum speed
3	A bus which is not driven at more than 50 mph.	50 mph
4	A low platform trailer, or a municipal vehicle, or a multi-stop local collection and delivery vehicle.	40 mph
5	A vehicle not falling in items 1 to 4.	70 mph

(4) In this regulation—

“low platform trailer” means a trailer fitted with tyres of 20 rim diameter and below carrying a rectangular plate 7″ × 9″ carrying two letters “L” each 5″ high and 3½″ wide with a stroke width of ½″ the letters being black on a white ground.

“maximum axle weight” means—

(a)

in the case of a vehicle equipped with a Ministry plate in accordance with regulation 70 the axle weight shown in column (2) of that plate;

(b)

in the case of a vehicle not equipped with a Ministry plate, but which is equipped with a plate in accordance with regulation 66, the maximum axle weight shown on the plate in respect of item 9 of Part I of Schedule 8 in the case of a motor vehicle and item 7 of Part II of Schedule 8 in the case of a trailer;

(c)

in any other case, the weight which the axle is designed or adapted not to exceed when the vehicle is travelling on a road.

“municipal vehicle” means a motor vehicle or trailer limited at all times to use by a local authority, or a person acting in pursuance of a contract with a local authority, for road cleansing, road watering or the collection and disposal of refuse, night soil or the contents of cesspools, or the purposes of the enactments relating to weights and measures or the sale of food and drugs.

“multi-stop local collection and delivery vehicle” means a motor vehicle or trailer used for multi-stop collection and delivery services to be used only within a radius of 25 miles from the permanent base at which it is normally kept.