OBJECTIVE: the proposal for a directive seeks to limit the noise arising from contact between tyres and road surfaces.
CONTENT: the proposed measures are based on a study undertaken at the Commission's request and follow on from Directive 92/97/EEC - amending Directive 70/157/CEE on the admissible noise level and on the exhaust systems of motor vehicles - which provides for subsequent measures aimed at reconciling safety requirements with the need to limit the noise arising from contact between tyres and road surfaces.
As regards limit values for rolling noise, the proposal has retained the values based on the nominal rim size for tyres designed to be fitted to passenger cars (limit values ranging from 72 to 76 dB) and the category of use for tyres intended for commercial vehicles (limit values ranging from 75 to 79 dB).
The proposal mainly provides that the requirements of new Annex V relating to rolling noise do not apply to tyres intended to be fitted to vehicles registered for the first time before 1 October 1980.
It further provides for:
- a date (1 October 2001) from which the requirements of the directive shall enter into force, both for category M1 vehicles and their tyres and for vehicles within categories other than M1 and their tyres: in the first case the requirements of the directive shall be applicable in an inclusive system of harmonisation, and in the second case in an optional system of harmonisation (national approval is still possible);
- a date (1 October 2005) from which replacement tyres which have already been approved prior to the date of entry into force of the new directive, shall be required to comply with the said directive.
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