Industry association calls for revision of timeline for new tire standards
5. August 2021The Indian Association of Automotive Tire Manufacturers (ATMA) said in late May that they are calling for a revision of the timeline for the introduction of new tire standards. The relevant guidelines relate to rolling resistance, wet grip and rolling noise. The industry association justifies the demand by saying that many companies have yet to test their stockpiles of tires in accordance with the latest standards. Vehicle tires in India must be certified according to AIS guidelines. AIS stands for Automotive Industry Standards, the technical automotive standards for India.
According to the draft submitted by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), the planned standards are to apply to all newly designed and produced tires from October 1, 2021, with the regulation becoming binding for stocks one year later. The tires affected are those for passenger cars as well as light and heavy commercial vehicles. Tire industry representatives said that effective implementation of the proposed draft also depends on the availability of appropriate infrastructure for testing tires. Among other things, the tires must be tested on special test tracks for their grip in wet conditions and rolling noise while other parameters can be determined in the laboratory or test rig.
The ATMA wrote in its own statement that the timetable for implementing the standards needs a revision that is realistic for the industry in terms of deadlines. The companies represented by the association would need time to adapt their supply inventories and tools and machines to the new situation. In addition, certain details of the standards should be adapted to circumstances in India. According to ATMA, the Indian tire industry produces one of the world’s largest ranges of tires.
ATMA’s technical wing, the Indian Tire Technical Advisory Committee (ITTAC) presented a detailed response to the ministry’s recent draft. In doing so, ATMA Director Rajiv Budhraja made it clear that the industry is willing to comply with the government and introduce the new standards, albeit with a modified timetable. As an example, he cited the good cooperation between ATMA and the government for the introduction of the AIS 142 tire standard. The introduction of new and internationally coordinated tire standards only benefits the Indian tire industry, Budhraja said. It would also allow the tires to be exported, and for the domestic market, new types of tires will increase road safety and save fuel, he said.
AIS certification, as needed by vehicle tyres, is conducted by authorities like the International Center for Automotive Technology (iCAT).
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