The UK government has launched a consultation to determine whether to ban older tyres from use on buses, coaches, heavy goods vehicles and mini-buses to help keep road users safe.
The Department for Transport will consult on legislation to make it illegal for these vehicles to run with a tyre aged 10 years or over. The consultation follows a research project, launched by the government last year, to look at whether the age of a tyre has a direct impact on its safety.
“Keeping people safe on our roads is our priority, and we have been working hard to understand the link between tyre age and road safety,” said Transport Secretary Chris Grayling. “Emerging evidence and leading expert testimony shows us that we need to ban tyres over the age of 10 years from larger vehicles based upon the ‘precautionary principle’ – a move that will make our roads safer for everyone.”
In 2013, the DfT issued guidance advising bus operators against fitting older tyres to the front axles of their vehicles.
In November 2018 the DVSA guidance on maintaining roadworthiness was updated to say that tyres of 10 years of age or older should not be used on the front axles of heavy goods vehicles as well as buses and coaches.
