§ Mr. Conlanasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether, in the light of the proposed assessment of wet-grip cornering performance of tyres under the tyre tread depth regulations consultation, he proposes similar tests for skinny non-standard motor car spare wheels;
(2) if he will make a statement on the Council of European Communities' proposed directive relating to tyres for motor vehicles with particular reference to the requirement for the spare wheel contained in the annex to the document;
(3) if he will publish the results of the tests undertaken by the transport and road research laboratory on the use of skinny, non-standard motor car spare wheels.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe European Commission's proposed directive on motor vehicle tyres which was published in 1976 has not been discussed in recent years in the relevant Commission or Council working groups. Any fresh discussion on this proposal would doubtless take account of the recently agreed ECE regulation 64 which specifies safety requirements for the use and fitment of temporary use spare wheels/tyres.
Results of the TRRL tests done in 1980 were not published as they did not form part of a comprehensive test programme. Copies can be made available and I am arranging for the hon. Member to receive them. No further tests of temporary use spare wheels/tyres are planned by the TRRL whose work on wet grip concerning performance has been designed to compare worn tyres with differing amounts of shoulder tread depth.