Low Rolling Resistance Tires to become compulsory

"As part of the European Union's commitment to improving road safety, Low Rolling Resistance Tires (LRRT) are to become obligatory from 2012. The fuel saving potential of using such rubber is 3%, the lower level of fuel consumption resulting from the reduction in the resistance to motion when a tire rolls." Taken from tire safe.

Lets see what happens to grip levels with the new breed of ultra hard tires. It's great to know you'll be saving 3% of your fuel as you're sliding into a ditch...

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Comments:

I'm a keen environmentalist but I only read "Low Rolling Resistance Tires to become compulsory" before I panicked!

So...all the existing tire ranges are going to be reformulated in 3 years to be low rolling resistance without impacting grip? Or are we going to be limited to a tiny subset of the existing tires? There's no way that you can make an Eagle F1 low rolling resistance: it depends on the soft rubber to cling to the road. The same for other high performance tires.

How does "low rolling resistance" equate to "improving road safety"? More likely to slip so everyone will drive slower because they are scared? I don't think so.

I'm all for producing economical tires - I'd like an extra column in the overall grid for "economy", but it has to be appropriate to the car and driver. Unbelievable. (I wish it was.)
Posted at 2009-02-15 12:50:55 | Was this comment helpful? Please login to vote
They are going to have to be very certain that safety isn't compromised before introducing this. Of course, when it all goes wrong, Government will shirk responsibility as usual, saying that it's up to Tire manufacturers to produce a safe tire that is fit for purpose!
Posted at 2009-01-09 17:10:58 | Was this comment helpful? Please login to vote
I do not see this ever happening ahead of safety. There are better ways of saving fuel than this.
Posted at 2008-08-21 08:30:41 | Was this comment helpful? Please login to vote