COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 228/2011
of 7 March 2011
amending Regulation (EC) No 1222/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to the wet grip testing method for C1 tyres
(Text with EEA relevance)
THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1222/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the labelling of tyres with respect to fuel efficiency and other essential parameters (1), and in particular Article 11(c) thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
In accordance with Annex I, part B to Regulation (EC) No 1222/2009, the wet grip index of C1 tyres shall be determined as specified in UNECE Regulation No 117 and its subsequent amendments. However, representatives of the industry have developed a revised wet grip testing method on the basis of Annex 5 to UNECE Regulation No 117 that significantly improves the accuracy of the testing results.
(2)
Accuracy of testing results is a key factor for determining wet grip classes of tyres. It ensures a fair comparison between tyres from different suppliers. In addition, accurate testing prevents that a tyre may be classified into more than one class and reduces the risks that different testing results will be obtained by market surveillance authorities in comparison to the testing results declared by the suppliers only because of the uncertainty of the testing method.
(3)
Therefore, it is necessary to update the wet grip testing method in order to improve accuracy of the tyre testing results.
(4)
Regulation (EC) No 1222/2009 should therefore be amended accordingly.
(5)
The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee established by Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No 1222/2009,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
Amendment to Regulation (EC) No 1222/2009
Regulation (EC) No 1222/2009 is amended as follows:
(1)
in Annex I, part B, the first sentence is replaced by the following:
‘The wet grip class of C1 tyres must be determined on the basis of the wet grip index (G) according to the “A” to “G” scale specified in the table below and measured in accordance with Annex V.’;
(2)
the text set out in the Annex to this Regulation is added as Annex V.
Article 2
Entry into force
This Regulation shall enter into force on the 20th day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in the Member States in accordance with the Treaties.
Done at Brussels, 7 March 2011.