ETRMA: New tire emissions rules must be ‘synchronised’ with UN requirements

Brussels – The European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers' Association (ETRMA) has backed an EU initiative to regulate tire abrasion within the Euro 7 emissions regulation proposal*, while offering recommendations to improve the bill.

Introduced last November, the proposed new pollutant-emissions standard, which applies to cars & vans and trucks & buses, would, for the first time, extend restrictions from exhaust emissions to also cover particles from brakes and tires.

In its response to the proposals, ETRMA called for test methods covered by the proposal to be based on those being developed at United Nations (UN) level – and that EU emissions limits should be aligned with UN-agreed levels.

However, noted ETRMA's 17 Feb statement, the EC proposals appear to cover only those tires intended to be fitted on Euro 7 vehicles: “Whereas the established tire-type approval scheme under the EU General Safety Regulation (GSR) does not limit its provisions to certain vehicles.”

The industry body also argued that the Commission should clarify that it will not be establishing EU-only tire abrasion limits, and instead introduce regulation in “full synchronisation” with the UN.

ETRMA went on to ‘strongly recommend’ the use of GSR mechanisms as a reference, especially during the definition of implementing and delegated acts in Euro 7.

This, it said, would ensure “holistic consideration” of tire performance and accelerate the application of tire-abrasion requirements in the European market.

Furthermore, ETRMA called on the policy-makers to reference the “reliable, reproducible, and representative test method, currently being defined at the UN WP.29 GRBP Task Force on tire abrasion.”

Stressing that the tire abrasion requirements should apply to “all tires produced after a certain date," ETRMA called for a “specific timeline” for the enforcement of tire-related obligations in the regulation.

This, it stated, should include projected time for homologation and consideration of parallel changes in tire-type approval requirements, such as limits for rolling resistance, rolling noise and wet grip.

ETRMA further added that the new rules should be supported by “effective enforcement and market surveillance” to ensure a level playing field in Europe and internationally.

“This means ensuring that all market actors are subject to and respect the same rules and that authorities are well equipped and funded to perform market surveillance activities,” the association concluded.

*From EC proposal statement: The Euro 7 standards rules will be the first worldwide emission standards to move beyond regulating exhaust pipe emissions and set additional limits for particulate emissions from brakes and rules on microplastic emissions from tyres. These rules will apply to all vehicles, including electric ones.

In 2035, Euro 7 will lower total NOx emissions from cars and vans by 35% compared to Euro 6, and by 56% compared to Euro VI from buses and lorries. At the same time, particles from the tailpipe will be lowered by 13% from cars and vans, and 39% from buses and lorries, while particles from the brakes of a car will be lowered by 27%.

The date for the entry into force of the new Regulation is 1 July 2025 for new light-duty vehicles (cars and vans), and 1 July 2027 for new heavy-duty vehicles (lorries and buses).