Tyre rules redefined: Rolling resistance, wet grip, rolling sound emissions to change from Oct 1

Come October and cars, trucks and buses with new tyres will have to meet the defined standards for rolling resistance, wet grip and rolling sound emissions, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) stated on Friday.

The Ministry issued a notification amending rule 95 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989. It mandates requirements of rolling resistance, wet grip and rolling sound emissions for tyres falling under classes C1(passenger cars) , C2 ( light truck) and C3 (truck and bus).

As per the notification, the tyres will have to meet the wet grip requirements and Stage 2 limits of rolling resistance and rolling sound emissions, as specified in the AIS (Automotive Industry Standard). With this regulation, India will be aligned with UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) regulations.

The rolling resistance of tyres has an impact on fuel efficiency; wet grip performance influences braking performance of tyres under wet conditions and promotes vehicular safety. The rolling sound emission relates to the sound emitted from the contact between tyres in motion and the road surface.