HC Deb 12 November 1991 vol 198 cc425-6W
155. Mr. Mills

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will publish in full the new requirements on tyre tread depth regulations;

(2) if he will publish the date of making and the date of implementation of the new construction and use regulations concerning tyre tread depths; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Chope

From 1 January 1992 the grooves of the tread pattern of every tyre fitted to the wheels of cars, light vans and their trailers must be of a depth of at least 1.6nirn throughout a continuous band situated in the central three-quarters of the breadth of tread and round the entire circumference of the tyre. They will replace the current standard of lmm of tread across three quarters of the tread pattern and visible tread in the remaining quarter. Vehicles first used before 3 January 1933 are exempt from these new requirements, because in many cases they have resilient, rather than pneumatic, tyres. The new standards on tyre tread depths of cars, light vans and their trailers are covered by the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment No. 4) Regulations 1990 (SI 1990 No. 1981) which were made on 28 September 1990.