Tyre law shake-up on way?

01st June 2008

Rubber red tape could soon see motorists forced to fit eco-friendly tyres to their cars. Draft European Union regulations have set out tough new noise limits for rubber – meaning drivers may have to switch to tyres with improved rolling resistance, which cut CO2 emissions.

However, Auto Express has highlighted concerns about the braking power of low-noise rubber (Issue 988). Tyre maker Continental warned that it also has less grip, and “reduces wet braking performance by up to 10 per cent”.

Drivers already feeling the pinch with rising fuel prices could find the new rules also have cost implications. Under the proposals, all new cars must have stability control and tyre pressure monitors as standard – effectively consigning basic entry-level models to the history books. It’s also not yet clear whether the rubber rules only apply to new vehicles, or whether all drivers will have to buy them when their tyres need replacing.

It’s now simple to check for noise levels where you live, however. A new Government website shows decibel ratings for towns and cities in England for road, rail and air noise. Visitors to www.defra.gov.uk/noisemapping just need to input their postcode for details.