The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986

Tyre Loads and Speed RatingsE+W+S

[F125.—(1) Save as provided in [F2paragraphs (3), (4), (7A) and (7B)] any tyre fitted to the axle of a vehicle–

(a)which is a class of vehicle specified in an item in column 2 of Table I; and

(b)in relation to which the date of first use is as specified in that item in column 3 of that Table;

shall comply with the requirements specified in that item in column 4 of that Table.

[F3TABLE I
(regulation 25(1))
1234
ItemClass of vehicleDate of first useRequirements
1

Vehicles which are of one ormore of the following descriptions, namely–

(a)

goods vehicles,

(b)

trailers,

(c)

buses,

(d)

vehicles of a class mentioned in column 2 in Table III

Before 1st April 1991The requirements of paragraphs (5) and (6)
2

Vehicles which are of one ormore of the following descriptions–

(a)

goods vehicles,

(b)

trailers,

(c)

buses,

(d)

vehicles of a class mentioned in column 2 in Table III,

and do not fall within item 3 below

On or after1st April 1991The requirements of paragraphs (5), (6) and (7)
3

  • Vehicles of a class mentioned in paragraph (2)

On or after1st April 1991The requirements of paragraph (5)]

[F4(2) The classes of vehicle referred to in item 3 in column 2 of Table I are–

(a)engineering plant;

(b)track-laying vehicles;

(c)vehicles equipped with tyres of speed category Q;

(d)works trucks; and

(e)motor vehicles with a maximum speed not exceeding 30 mph, not being vehicles of a class specified in–

(i)items 2 and 3 of Table II; or

(ii)paragraph (7A) or sub-paragraphs (a) to (d) of this paragraph;

  • or trailers while being drawn by such vehicles.]

(3) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any tyre fitted to the axle of a vehicle if the vehicle is–

(a)broken down or proceeding to a place where it is to be broken up; and

(b)being drawn by a motor vehicle at a speed not exceeding 20 mph.

(4) Where in relation to any vehicle first used on or after 1st April 1991 a tyre supplied by a manufacturer for the purposes of tests or trials of that tyre is fitted to an axle of that vehicle, [F5paragraph (7) shall not apply to that tyre while it is being used for those purposes.]

(5) The requirements of this paragraph are that the tyre, as respects strength, shall be designed and manufactured adequately to support the maximum permitted axle weight for the axle.

(6) The requirements of this paragraph are that the tyre shall be designed and [F6manufactured] adequately to support the maximum permitted axle weight for the axle when the vehicle is driven at the speed shown in column 3 in Table II in the item in which the vehicle is described in column 2 (the lowest relevant speed being applicable to a vehicle which is described in more than one item).

TABLE II
(regulation 25(6))
1234
ItemClass of vehicleSpeed (mph)Variation to the [F7load-capacity index] expressed as a percentage
[F7Tyres marked in accordance with ECE Regulation 30, 30.01 or 30.02] [F8and relevant car tyres]Tyres marked in accordance with ECE Regulation 54 [F9and relevant commercial vehicle tyres]
1A vehicle of a class for which maximum speeds are prescribed by Schedule 6 to the 1984 Act [F10other than an agricultural motor vehicle]The highest speed so prescribedSingle wheels: noneNone
Dual wheels: 95.5%
2An electrically propelled vehicle used as a multi-stop local collection and delivery vehicle and having a maximum speed of not more than 25 mph [F11The maximum speed of the vehicle]None150%
3An electrically propelled vehicle used as a multi-stop local collection and delivery vehicle and having a maximum speed of more than 25 mph and not more than 40 mph [F12The maximum speed of the vehicle]None130%
4An electrically propelled vehicle used only within a radius of 25 miles from the permanent base at which it is normally kept and having a maximum speed of more than 40 mph and not more than 50 mph [F13The maximum speed of the vehicle]None115%
5A local service bus50None110%
6A restricted speed vehicle50NoneThe relevant % variation specified in Annex 8 to ECE Regulation 54 [F14or Appendix 8 to Annex II to Community Directive 92/23]
7A low platform trailer [F15, an agricultural motor vehicle, an agricultural trailer, an agricultural trailed appliance or an agricultural trailed appliance conveyor]40NoneThe relevant % variation specified in Annex 8 to ECE Regulation 54 [F14or Appendix 8 to Annex II to Community Directive 92/23]
8A municipal vehicle40None115%
9A multi-stop local collection and delivery vehicle if not falling within the class of vehicle described in items 2 or 3 above40None115%
10A light trailer or any trailer equipped with tyres of speed category F or G60Single wheels: 110%The relevant variation specified in Annex 8 to ECE
Dual wheels: 105%Regulation 54 [F14or Appendix 8 to Annex II to Community Directive 92/23]
11A trailer not falling in items 6–1060Single wheels: noneNone
Dual wheels: 95.5%
12A [F16motor] vehicle not falling in items 1–1170Single wheels: noneNone
Dual wheels: 95.5%

(7) The requirement of this paragraph is that the tyre when first fitted to the vehicle [F17was marked with a designated approval mark or] complied with the requirements of [F18ECE Regulation 30, 30.01, 30.02] or 54, but this requirement shall not apply to a retreaded tyre.

[F19(7A) The requirements of paragraphs (6) and (7) shall not apply to [F20any tyre fitted to the axle of] a vehicle of a class specified in an item in column 2 of Table III while [F21the vehicle] is being driven or drawn at a speed not exceeding that specified in that item in column 3 of that Table.

TABLE III
(regulation 25(7A))
123
ItemClass of vehicleSpeed (mph)
1Agricultural motor vehicles20
2Agricultural trailers20
3Agricultural trailed appliances20
4Agricultural trailed appliance conveyors20
5Works trailers18]

[F22(7B) Paragraph (7C) applies where a tyre fitted to the axle of a vehicle—

(a)bears a speed category symbol and load–capacity index, being marks that were moulded on to or into the tyre at the time that it was manufactured;

(b)is designed and manufactured so as to be capable of operating safely at the speed and load indicated by those marks; and

(c)is designed so as to be capable of being fitted to the axle of a vehicle of a class specified in item 1, 2, 3 or 4 in column 2 of Table III above.

(7C) In the circumstances mentioned in paragraph (7B), paragraph (7) shall not apply to the tyre if—

(a)the vehicle is being driven or drawn at a speed that does not exceed the speed indicated by the speed category symbol or 50 mph (whichever is the less), and

(b)the load on the tyre does not exceed the load indicated by the load–capacity index.]

(8) A vehicle of a class described in column 2 in Table II first used on or after 1st April 1991 shall not be used on a road–

(a)in the case where there is no entry in column 4 specifying a variation to the [F23load-capacity index] expressed as a percentage, if the load applied to any tyre fitted to the axle of the vehicle exceeds that indicated by the [F23load-capacity index]; or

(b)in the case where there is such an entry in column 4, if the load applied to any tyre fitted to the axle of the vehicle exceeds the variation to the [F23load-capacity index] expressed as a percentage.

(9) In this regulation–

[F24“designated approval mark” means the marking designated as an approval mark by regulation 5 of the Approval Marks Regulations and shown at item 33 in Schedule 4 to those Regulations (that item being a marking relating to Community Directive 92/23);]

“dual wheels” means two or more wheels which are to be regarded as one wheel by virtue of paragraph 7 of regulation 3 in the circumstances specified in that paragraph;

“load-capacity index” has the same meaning as in [F25paragraph 2.28 of Annex II to Community Directive 92/23 or] paragraph 2.29 of ECE Regulation 30.02 or [F26paragraph 2.27] of ECE Regulation 54;

“local service bus” means a bus being used in the provision of a local service as defined in section 2 of the Transport Act 1985;

“municipal vehicle” means a motor vehicle or trailer limited at all times to use by a local authority, or a person acting in pursuance of a contract with a local authority, for road cleansing, road watering or the collection and disposal of refuse, night soil or the contents of cesspools, or the purposes of the enactments relating to weights and measures or the sale of food and drugs;

“multi-stop local collection and delivery vehicle” means a motor vehicle or trailer used for multi-stop collection and delivery services to be used only within a radius of 25 miles from the permanent base at which it is normally kept;

“single wheels” means wheels which are not dual wheels; and

“speed category” has the same meaning as in [F27paragraph 2.29 of Annex II to Community Directive 92/23 or] [F28paragraph 2.28] of ECE Regulation 54.

[F29(9A) For the purposes of this regulation, a tyre is a “relevant car tyre” if—

(a)it has been marked with a designated approval mark, and

(b)the first two digits of the approval number comprised in the mark are “02”.

(9B) For the purposes of this regulation, a tyre is a “relevant commercial vehicle tyre” if—

(a)it has been marked with a designated approval mark, and

(b)the first two digits of the approval number comprised in the mark are “00”.]

(10) In this regulation any reference to the first use shall, in relation to a trailer, be construed as a reference to the date which is 6 months after the date of manufacture of the trailer.]

Textual Amendments