Opportunity for dealers as new tyre law looms

LCV dealers servicing large heavy vans have an customer service opportunity in 2021 when new laws ban the use of tyres aged more than 10 years on good vehicles and minibuses.

The new legislation comes in on February 1 and covers England, Scotland and Wales and applies to the front axle of a goods vehicle with a maximum gross weight exceeding 3,500kg, a bus, coach or minibus. It also applies to the rear axle of a minibus with single rear wheels fitted.

The Department for Transport announced the ban in July 2020 following a consultation and extensive investigations which indicate ageing tyres suffer corrosion which could cause them to fail.

In the vehicles' annual test failure to comply will become a dangerous fail item, which means the affected vehicle is unroadworthy and cannot be driven off the property until that fault has been repaired.

DVSA’s chief executive Gareth Llewellyn said: “This new landmark legislation will help to protect all road users against unsafe vehicles.

"Drivers, owners and operators are responsible for the safety of their vehicles, so we advise them to start checking the age of their tyres to ensure they’ll meet the new requirements.”

DVSA will enforce the legislation at roadside enforcement checks.