Contents

Objective of the Rule

Extent of consultation

Part 1 Rule requirements

Section 1 Preliminary provisions

• 1.1 Title
• 1.2 Commencement
• 1.3 Principal Rule amended

Section 2 Amendments to principal Rule

• 2.1 Clause 2.3 amended (General safety requirements for tyres)
• 2.2 Clause 2.4 replaced (Tyre inflation requirements)
• 2.3 Clause 2.5 amended (Tyre pressure control system)
• 2.4 Part 2 amended (Definitions)

 

Objective of the Rule

Land Transport Rule: Tyres and Wheels Amendment 2019 (the amendment Rule) amends Land Transport Rule: Tyres and Wheels 2001 (the Tyres and Wheels Rule). The Tyres and Wheels Rule sets safety requirements and standards for tyres and wheels and their assembly with hubs and axles, on all motor vehicles and pedal cycles.

The objectives of the amendment Rule are to—

• remove an out-of-date transitional provision and provide that all tyres in a twin tyre set fitted to a motor vehicle of class NA, NB, NC, TC, or TD must comply with certain tread-pattern requirements:
• provide for tyres on heavy vehicles to have a maximum cold inflation pressure of more than 825 kPa, up to 900 kPa, if the manufacturer of the tyre or vehicle specifies an inflation pressure higher than 825 kPa:
• remove an out-of-date transitional provision relating to tyre pressure control systems:
• update the definition of gross vehicle mass to align with changes made to the Land Transport Act 1998 in 2017.

Extent of consultation

For the purposes of consultation, amendments proposed to the Tyres and Wheels Rule and 14 other Land Transport Rules were combined into a single Rule, Land Transport Rule: Regulatory Stewardship (Omnibus) Amendment 2018 (the Omnibus Amendment Rule). Following consultation, the provisions in the Omnibus Amendment Rule were split into separate amendment Rules.

The NZ Transport Agency sent details of the amendment proposals by letter or email to approximately 2544 groups and individuals who had registered an interest in the Rules to be amended. The Omnibus Amendment Rule was made available through the NZ Transport Agency’s Contact Centre and, together with Questions and Answers, was also available on the NZ Transport Agency’s website. The availability of the amendment proposals for comment was publicised in the daily newspapers in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. It was also notified in the New Zealand Gazette on 23 July 2018.

The NZ Transport Agency received 41 submissions on the Omnibus Amendment Rule, of which 13 commented on the proposed amendments to the Tyres and Wheels Rule.

The submissions received were taken into account in finalising the draft Rule following which it was submitted to the Associate Minister of Transport for signing.

Part 1 Rule requirements

Section 1 Preliminary provisions

1.1 Title

This Rule is Land Transport Rule: Tyres and Wheels Amendment 2019.

1.2 Commencement

This Rule comes into force on 1 June 2019.

1.3 Principal Rule amended

This Rule amends Land Transport Rule:  Tyres and Wheels 2001.

Section 2 Amendments to principal Rule

2.1 Clause 2.3 amended (General safety requirements for tyres)

Replace clause 2.3(17) with:

2.3(17) All tyres in a twin tyre set fitted to a motor vehicle of Class NA, NB, NC, TC, or TD must comply with the tread-pattern requirements in 2.3(13) or 2.3(13A).

2.2 Clause 2.4 replaced (Tyre inflation requirements)

Replace clause 2.4 with:

2.4  Tyre inflation requirements

2.4(1) A tyre fitted to a vehicle must be maintained at a safe inflation pressure that—

               (a)      takes into account the recommendation of the manufacturer of the tyre or vehicle, the speed at which the vehicle is being used, and any loading; and

               (b)      does not exceed any relevant limit in 2.4(2).

2.4(2) The maximum cold inflation pressure for a heavy motor vehicle tyre is—

               (a)      for a cross-ply tyre, 700 kPa; and

               (b)      for a radial-ply tyre—

(i)      825 kPa; or

(ii)     if the manufacturer of the tyre or vehicle specifies an inflation pressure higher than 825 kPa, that inflation pressure, to a maximum of 900 kPa.

2.3 Clause 2.5 amended (Tyre pressure control system)

Revoke clause 2.5(1).

2.4 Part 2 amended (Definitions)

In Part 2, replace the definition of gross vehicle mass with:

gross vehicle mass has the same meaning as in section 2(1) of the Land Transport Act 1998