RHA rejects tyre tread move
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PROPOSALS from the Motor Agents Association and the National Tyre Distributors Association to increase the current minimum tyre tread depth from one millimetre across 75 per cent of the tyre width to one millimetre across the whole width have been criticised by the Road Haulage Association.
In a letter to Transport Minister Lynda Chalker, MAA director-general David Gent has asked that the 1983 regulations which stipulate a 1mm tread depth across 75 per cent of the tread width with the remaining quarter having a visible tread pattern, be changed to a uniform width requirement of Imin.
Apart from the "self evident safety factor" to be gained by increasing the tread across the whole tyre, Gent says that the current regulations place difficulties on MoT stations.
The MAA's submission has been backed by the NTDA.
But the Road Haulage Association says that the proposals could create a problem for hauliers using multi wheeled vehicles.
According to RHAs technical manager Mike Kneen, extending the minimum depth across the whole tread would "create a brand new offence" prohibiting the use of tyres with uneven shoulder wear which would otherwise he used under current regulatimis.
In particular, Kneen says it would be difficult fbr at normal load carriers to mtinitor tyres on multi-wheeled lowloader trailers to meet any law changes.