EU tire makers oppose tire noise regulations

Posted Mon Jun 23 2008 3:28 PM by Nelson Ireson

A package of proposed mandatory safety features under consideration for European Union member nations has generally been well-received. One provision, however, has raised concern among tire makers that road safety could actually be compromised rather than improved. Reducing tire noise without simultaneously reducing grip is a very difficult proposition.

The same set of proposed regulations would also require all tires fitted to new vehicles to have tire-pressure monitoring systems in place, offer lower rolling resistance and have increased wet grip - all while cutting noise levels by at least 67%, reports Ward's Auto.

An organization of tire makers, the European Tire and Rubber Manufacturers Association (ETRMA) says that goal is not likely to be achieved without a reduction in vehicle safety. An environment organization called Transport & Environment (T&E) says that half of all tires sold today already meet the noise requirements, however, so it does not think the challenge is as difficult as the ETRMA makes it out to be. T&E also claims that 50,000 fatal heart attacks and 200,000 cases of cardiovascular disease are linked to traffic noise each year.

An exemption for large SUVs has the environmental group grumbling, however. Other safety measures to be mandated as standard equipment under the proposed legislation include electronic stability control for all cars and emergency braking control and lane departure warning systems for heavy-duty vehicles.

Reader Comments

Mon Jun 23 2008 6:33 PM
HECTOR says

Well! For decades now we have been fed with the *let's kick common sense to death* claims that daytime running lights are a safety enhancement. So nobody should be surprised to hear the equally preposterous claim that 50000 people die each year from *road noise*.
Mon Jun 23 2008 6:49 PM
Gus says

You have got to be s*****g me, more people die from cars driving by every year than in car accidents? That has got to be the dumbest statistic I have ever heard of in my entire life.

Next they'll tell us that cow farts are more damaging to the Earth than all the cars and SUV's put together. Oh yeah, wait a minute...
Mon Jun 23 2008 8:21 PM
Ultra says

Hector was being sarcastic LOL . HAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAHHAHHAHHAAAAHHAHAHAHAHHAAHAAHAHAAHAAHHAHAHHAAHHAAHAHAHAAHAA .

ya stupid either way because tire noise is extremly anoying and so loud we cant hear the stereo playing
Mon Jun 23 2008 8:40 PM
Gus says

Huh?

Sounds like Ultra hangs out around loud tires too much.
Tue Jun 24 2008 2:31 AM
ally says

ok...well u see this sort of makes sense....noise creates tension which creates heart desease...so there should be less noise on earth....so why dont we put a regulation on the amount of noise birds make..if they make more noise than 2 decibals they shud be shot...the amount noise insects make shud be regularized...the amount of noise tht trees make when they come in contact with wind shud regularized..if a tree make more noise than 5 decibals it shud be cut down.... the amount of nosie tht humans make when they breathe shud also be regularized..if a human makes more noise then 0.5 decibals they shud be shot twice....GOD DAMN THESE ENVIORNMENTALISTS...I DONT THINK ANY ENVIORNMENTALIST HAS HEARD OF SUMTHIN CALLED COMON SENSE...
Tue Jun 24 2008 3:21 AM
Raptor says

You know what? I think enviromentalists are too loud. Let's ban them!
Tue Jun 24 2008 8:56 AM
Alan says

Completely agree, those eco terroist makes people more stressed leading to heart attack

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