Safer roads and improved fuel economy: why SA needs to update its tyre standards

South African roads would not only become safer, but vehicle efficiency would improve if international tyre safety standards were adopted in South Africa.

This is the view of the Product Testing Institute (PTI), which has urged the Department of Transport to adopt new standards pertaining to rolling resistance and retreading.

Tyre failures are believed to cause around two road deaths per day in South Africa, or over 700 per year.

"Implementing compulsory local standards for retreading and rolling resistance is urgently needed," explained Alex Erdman, Laboratory Manager at the PTI.

He explained that the lack of a local testing facility has until now held back the adoption of these standards in South Africa, however, the PTI was recently given formal accreditation as a tyre testing facility, by the SA National Accreditation System (SANAS).

“Safely retreading tyres is a cost-effective way to lengthen a tyre's lifespan that also reduces the amount of waste tyres produced,” the PTI said.

“Quality tyres are designed to be retreaded multiple times, maximising the initial investment. However, the adoption of international standards on retread safety testing (UN ECE 108 and UN ECE 109) is needed to ensure safety is not compromised. With a robust and well-regulated retreading industry, consumers can have access to high-quality retreaded tires at competitive prices, reducing the need for lower-quality imports.”

The correct testing and verifying of rolling resistance also has significant benefits, the PTI says, as tyres with higher rolling resistance require more energy to move and use more fuel.

“Adopting the international standard on rolling resistance (UN ECE R117) will deliver lower fuel costs and reduced emissions,” the institute added.

“Prior to the PTI the National Regulator of Compulsory Standards either had to rely on accepting test results from overseas facilities, or tyre samples had to be sent to foreign testing facilities at high costs and with long turnarounds.

“Now, local testing can be done efficiently, improving safety and sustainability, while stimulating local industry.”

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