No age limit for heavy vehicle tyres

There will be no immediate legislation restricting the age of tyres that can be fitted to heavy vehicles, the Department for Transport has said.

After a fatal crash on the A3 two years ago involving a coach fitted with a 20-year-old tyre, Surrey coroner Richard Travers wrote to the Department for Transport questioning whether it was legal for tyres of such an age to be in use.

A reply to the coroner from transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: “Advice from the tyre industry suggests that other factors such as the maintenance of correct inflation pressures, regular use, and inspection for damage are more critical than a single limit on the age of the tyre.”

McLoughlin’s letter went on to advise operators not to fit older tyres to the front axles of larger vehicles, but that they should be fitted in positions where they would be “part of a pair.”

Future legislation has not been ruled out. McLoughlin added: “I would like to consider options for a more comprehensive response to the issue including – possibly – through the imposition of restrictions on the use of tyres above a certain age via the existing vehicle inspection regime.”

A DfT survey of 210 vehicles over 10 year old revealed six per cent of the tyres fitted to them were over 10 years old and three per cent were more than 15 years old.