6 Apr April 6, 2016 All tyres manufactured and sold in the UAE will have fuel efficiency and wet grip ratings from January 2017. The design of tyres and its rolling resistance determines its impact on a vehicle’s fuel economy, says Abdullah Al Muaini, director-general of Emirates Standardisation and Metrology (Esma). He added that a tyre’s structure determines its grip during wet conditions which impacts on safety during rain, as well. Elaborating further he said an excellent rated tyre can help save up to 20% of fuel, compared to a ‘very poor’ rated tyre, which will use more fuel than a vehicle is normally supposed to consume. He said Esma, in cooperation with local civic bodies, will make regular surveillance to ensure that all tyres are provided with the label indicating the rolling resistance and the wet grip value of the tyres. Among the highlights of the regulations of tyres are the requirement of additional certification for manufacturers, complete ban on sale of used tyres as well as restriction in re-treading and repair of tyres, while proper storage and disposal of tyres have also been given utmost importance. Under the revised law, no used tyre, no matter if it’s used only for a few days, is allowed to be re-used, as it is deemed unsafe by the authority. The law allows sale and use of retreaded tyres but only if the retreading is done by certified firms through a pre-agreed process. However, used tyres continue to be sold openly in some parts of Sharjah despite the ban, and Esma is now engaging local enforcement bodies to check the illegal sale. Source: GN
