§ Mr. Iain Millsasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has now decided on amendments to the construction and use regulations governing tyres.
§ Mrs. ChalkerMy right hon. Friend has today made regulations amending the requirements for tyres and in particular the amount and distribution of tread. Under the new rules, which come into effect on 1 November, the whole contact area of a tyre will have to have some visible tread—any baldness, however small the area, will make a tyre illegal. In addition, the tread will have to be at least 1mm in depth over a continuous band measured laterally across the tyre for at least three quarters of the tyre's width and right round the circumference. Other changes are made to clarify the law and to provide for certain specialist types of tyre.
These changes will help to improve road safety and the enforcement of the regulations, at an acceptable cost. More extensive changes would not be justified on present evidence. I accept, however, the need for further research and for a review in the light of experience. The Department will monitor the effect of the new rules with a view to further consultations with interested organisations after a two-year period.