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     Tread pattern and tread depth

Objective of the Rule

Land Transport Rule: Tyres and Wheels Amendment 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.

The objective of this amendment to Land Transport Rule: Tyres and Wheels 2001 is to include the previous requirement for tyres that do not have tread depth indicators in the principal grooves.

Extent of consultation

For the purposes of consultation, amendments proposed to Land Transport Rule: Tyres and Wheels 2001 and eleven other Land Transport Rules were combined into a single draft Rule, Land Transport Rule: Omnibus Amendment 2008 (the Omnibus Amendment Rule).

On 19 August 2008, the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) sent details of the amendment proposals by letter or email to approximately 1500 groups and individuals who had registered an interest in the Rules to be amended. The draft Omnibus Amendment Rule was made available through the NZTA Contact Centre and, together with Questions and Answers, was also available on the NZTA website.

The availability of the draft for comment was publicised in the metropolitan daily newspapers in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin and in the New Zealand Gazette. The NZTA received 24 submissions on the draft Omnibus Amendment Rule, of which 10 commented on the proposed requirements in this Rule.

Following consultation, the provisions in the draft Omnibus Amendment Rule were split into 12 separate amendment Rules, including this Rule. The submissions that were received were taken into account in drafting this amendment Rule before it was submitted to the Minister of Transport for signing.

Section 1     Application

1.1     Title

1.1(1)     This Rule is Land Transport Rule: Tyres and Wheels Amendment 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 7 May 2009.

Section 2     Amendments to Rule requirements

2.1     Tread pattern and tread depth

2.1(1)     Clause 2.3 is amended by inserting the following subclause:

• “2.3(13A)   Except as otherwise provided in 2.3(14) to 2.3(18), for tyres manufactured without moulded tread depth indicators, the tread depth must be not less than 1.5 mm across at least three-quarters of the width of the tread and around the entire circumference of the tyre.”

2.1(2)     Subclause 2.3(16) is amended by substituting “2.3(13) or 2.3(13A)” for “2.3(13)”.

2.1(3)     Paragraph 2.3(17)(b) is amended by substituting “2.3(13) or 2.3(13A)” for “2.3(13)”.