Compulsory make of tyre

Compulsory make of tyre

There is no longer any obligation to use a particular manufacturer, or to observe technical restrictions, for vehicles in application classes M, N and O as defined in EC Directive 70/156/EC.

If tyres have an approval mark to Directive 92/23/EC or equivalent EEC regulations, then for the purpose of granting type approval they are only checked to see if the size, load and speed indices are adequate. The result of this is that any restrictions in the vehicle documentation relating to the tyre manufacturer or type no longer have the force of law and should be regarded as recommendations only.

Not all the tyres currently on the market meet the required design criteria.

It is important to ensure that all the tyres mounted on one axle are of the same type, in accordance with Appendix !V of Directive 92/23/EC. Tyres of the same type means that the tyres have the following characteristics:

• the same construction
• the same size markings
• the same range of uses (e.g. road, off-road, M+S etc.).