Tyre Ageing and Integrity
On 1 March 2018 I reported to the House that the Department for Transport
was undertaking research to understand the effect of age on tyre integrity.
This research project will provide evidence in an area where there is a clear
gap in published scientific knowledge.
The Government has already provided guidance to operators of buses and
coaches on how to manage the use of tyres aged 10 years or more, and the
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has been monitoring tyre age
during annual roadworthiness inspections. I have been clear that the
Government would not hesitate to introduce further measures to reinforce this
guidance while the Department’s research generates the scientific evidence
to inform policy.
I wanted to let you know that tomorrow the DVSA will publish a revision to its
Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness – the formal guidance for operators of
large vehicles on how to ensure their vehicles are safe to use. This revision
includes the Government’s requirement that tyres aged 10 years or more
should not be used on front axles and it also extends the scope of that
requirement to include heavy goods vehicles.
But it goes further. Operator licence obligations will now require a record of
tyre age to be made as part of the regular safety checks on a vehicle and the
DVSA will investigate cases where the use of older tyres is identified. This
may result in the operator being referred to the Office of the Traffic
Commissioner.
From the Minister of State
Jesse Norman MP