Hansard

Tyres

Volume 31: debated on Wednesday 10 November 1982

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Mr. Iain Mills

asked the Secretary of Transport (1) if he will estimate the average percentage decrease in usable tyre life as a result of requiring (a) the existing minimum tread depth of 1 mm to be a continuous band over three-quarters of the tread width and round the full circumference plus visibility of the remaining 25 per cent. of tread, (b) 1 mm tread depth over 100 per cent. of the tread and (c) an overall tread depth of 1·6 mm;(2) on what criteria he formed his view that a change to a minimum of 1 mm tyre tread depth across the full width of a tyre would cost motorists and the transport industry a significant amount; and whether he has made an assessment of potential accident savings.

Mrs. Chalker

The information available to the Department on usable tyre life, as compared with existing requirements, is as follows:

  • (a) Few tyres are affected. Precise percentage estimates are not available.
  • (b) About 30 per cent. of tyres in use would be affected, with their lives reduced by around 12 per cent.
  • (c) Most tyres would be affected, with their lives reduced by around 14 per cent.
    • The cost of

    (b) is estimated at £22 million per year. The evidence on adhesion in the wet of tyres under (a) and (b) suggests that there would be no significant difference in the numbers of accidents.