ETRMA welcomes progress on Euro 7 tire-abrasion rules

Brussels – The European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers’ Association (ETRMA) has welcomed a European Parliament (EP) plenary vote as creating a path for the delivery of “meaningful” tire abrasion limits under the Euro 7 emissions rule.

The new Euro 7 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.

The 9 Nov position adopted by the EP extends the scope of tire abrasion limits to all tires and not just those fitted on Euro 7 vehicles – as had been proposed by the European Commission.

It also directly links Euro 7 to work being done in the UNECE world forum for harmonisation of vehicle regulations (WP. 29), which will set global rules regarding a test method and limits for tire abrasion.

Both points had previously been flagged up by ETRMA, which has long called for new EU tire-emission regulations to be ‘synchronised’ with UN requirements. (ERJ report)

Welcoming the EP vote, the tire & rubber industry body said it was “committed to setting tire abrasion limits that are global and based on a reliable and reproducible test method.” 

Tire abrasion will be added to the list of tire performance characteristics that are already regulated such as rolling resistance, wet grip and noise, the association noted.

“Euro 7 will regulate tire abrasion for the first time, setting a milestone in greening mobility,” commented Adam McCarthy, secretary general of the ETRMA.