The Motor Vehicle Tyres (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 2003

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Motor Vehicle Tyres (Safety) Regulations 1994 (S.I. 1994/3117) so as to take account of new technical requirements introduced by recent ECE Regulations.

A new Part II is substituted which makes the following principal changes.

1.  No new types of vehicle are brought within the 1994 Regulations affecting new tyres, but different and expanded definitions of the vehicles which are subject to the requirements as to the fitting of new tyres are introduced to make it clear that mopeds (but not low performance mopeds), motor tricycles, three-wheel mopeds and quadricycles are included (regulation 5).

2.  Regulation 6(1) alters the requirements as to the supply of retreaded tyres (not being part worn tyres) designed so as to be capable of being fitted to the wheels of passenger cars, commercial vehicles and trailers by requiring that as from 1st January 2004 the tyre conforms to a type approved pursuant to ECE Regulation 108 or 109.

3.  In regulation 6(2) are set out the requirements as to the supply of retreaded tyres (not being part-worn tyres) designed so as to be capable of being fitted to the wheels of mopeds (other than low performance mopeds), motor cycles, motor tricycles, three-wheel mopeds and quadricycles. From 1st January 2004 such tyres must either comply with the same requirements as apply to passenger car, commercial vehicle or trailer retreaded tyres or with the new requirements set out in regulation 6(b)(2).

4.  Regulation 7 deals with the supply of part-worn tyres and part-worn retreaded tyres. The revised definitions of vehicles (as explained in paragraph 1 above) are applied and requirements are also provided for the marking of part-worn retreaded tyres fitted to this range of vehicles (paragraph (6)(c)).

• A regulatory impact assessment has been prepared and copies can be obtained from the Department for Transport, Zone 2/04, Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London SWIP 4DR. A copy has been placed in the library of each House of Parliament.

• Copies of British Standards can be obtained from the British Standards Institution, 389 Chiswick High Road, London W4 4AL (tel. no. 020 8996 9001) and also from The Stationery Office.

• These Regulations have been notified to the European Commission and the other Member States in accordance with Directive 98/34/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ No. L204, 21.7.98, p. 37), as amended by Directive 98/48/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ No. L217, 5.8.98, p. 18).