Contents

Objective of the Rule

Extent of consultation

Section 1     Application

• 1.1     Title
• 1.2     Date when Rule comes into force

Section 2     Amendments to Rule requirements

• 2.1     Clause 2.3 General safety requirements for tyres
• 2.2     Clause 2.6 Spare tyres
• 2.3     Clause 4.6 Functions and powers of the Agency

Section 3     Amendments to definitions

• 3.1     Insertion of definition

Objective of the Rule

Land Transport Rule: Tyres and Wheels Amendment (No 2) 2009 amends Land Transport Rule: Tyres and Wheels 2001 (the Rule), which specifies safety requirements and standards for tyres, and the assembly of tyres, wheels, hubs, and axles for vehicles operating on New Zealand roads.

The objectives of this amendment to the Rule are:

• to allow a vehicle inspector to take into account written evidence from a person with current specialist tyre knowledge and experience in assessing the safety of a radial-ply, heavy vehicle tyre with exposed cords in the tread area;
• to reduce the risk of motor vehicle crashes associated with winter ('snow') tyres by requiring that if a vehicle is fitted with those tyres they must be fitted to all road wheels of the vehicle;
• to set new minimum tread depth requirements for winter tyres to ensure that those tyres are effective for their purpose;
• to remove the requirement for the label on a temporary-use spare tyre ('space-saver tyre') to be approved by the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), which is no longer considered to be necessary and the removal of which would result in a reduction in compliance costs;
• to insert a definition of 'winter tyre'.

Extent of consultation

The NZTA released a yellow draft of this amendment Rule in February 2009 for public comment on the proposed changes. The NZTA notified about 650 groups and individuals who had registered an interest in the Rule, by letter or email, of the availability of the yellow draft, and copies were sent to key industry and other groups. The yellow draft was made available through the NZTA’s Contact Centre and, together with Questions and Answers, was available on the NZTA’s website.

The availability of the draft amendment Rule was publicised in the metropolitan daily newspapers in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin and in the New Zealand Gazette. The NZTA received 16 submissions on the draft amendment Rule.

The submissions that were received were taken into account in redrafting the amendment Rule before it was submitted to Cabinet, and then signed by the Minister of Transport.

Section 1     Application

1.1     Title

1.1(1)     This Rule is Land Transport Rule: Tyres and Wheels Amendment (No 2) 2009.

1.1(2)     This Rule amends Land Transport Rule: Tyres and Wheels 2001.

1.2     Date when Rule comes into force

This Rule comes into force on 1 April 2010.

Section 2     Amendments to Rule requirements

2.1     Clause 2.3 General safety requirements for tyres

2.1(1)     Subclause 2.3(3) is amended by substituting the words “which entered or re-entered” for the words “entering or re-entering”.

2.1(2)     Clause 2.3 is amended by:

• (a)     inserting the following subclauses after subclause 2.3(5):
  • “2.3(5A)     Despite 2.3(5), a radial-ply, heavy vehicle tyre may have visible cords in the tread area provided the tyre is in a safe condition.
  • “2.3(5B)     In assessing whether a tyre in 2.3(5A) is in a safe condition, a vehicle inspector or inspecting organisation may take into account written evidence from a person who has current specialist tyre knowledge and experience, particularly in heavy vehicle tyre inspection.”; and
• (b)     inserting the following subclause after subclause 2.3(7):
  • “2.3(7A)     If fitted to a Class MA, MB, MC, MD1, MD2 or NA vehicle, winter tyres must be fitted to all of the vehicle’s road wheels.”; and
• (c)     inserting the following subclause after subclause 2.3(17):
  • “2.3(17A)     A winter tyre on a motor vehicle must have a tread pattern, excluding any tie-bar or tread depth indicator strip, of not less than 4 mm in depth within all principal grooves containing moulded tread depth indicators, and around the entire circumference of the tyre.”

2.1(3)     Subclause 2.3(13A) is amended by substituting “2.3(17A)” for “2.3(18)”.

2.2     Clause 2.6 Spare tyres

2.2(1)     Subclause 2.6(3) is amended by deleting the words “, approved by the Agency,”.

2.2(2)     Subclause 2.6(5) is revoked.

2.3     Clause 4.6 Functions and powers of the Agency

Subclause 4.6(3) is revoked.

Section 3     Amendments to definitions

3.1     Insertion of definition

Part 2 is amended by inserting the following definition in the appropriate place:

• “Winter tyre
• “means a tyre which is principally designed to be operated at temperatures below 7°C; and which may include a symbol depicting a snowflake and a mountain, or the word ‘studless’, marked in the sidewall, or both.”