According
to SP Singh, Sr Fellow and Coordinator, Indian Foundation of Transport Research
and Training (IFTRT), instead of vague tyre quality claims as existing now, the
new star rating labelling on side walls of tyres, although voluntary initially
for 2 years, will separate men from boys in the domestic tyre market to protect
the consumers and promote fuel saving tyres in national interest.
Once
the draft order is notified by DGEE, in first phase, tyre makers under
voluntary scheme may emboss / print the star rating on the sidewall of tyres. The
BEE designed label of 35 mm× 35 mm × 46mm shall be fixed by qualifying star
rating tyre manufacturers.
The
rating will help tyre users to prefer fuel saving tyres of higher rolling
resistance limit. At present, In EU, China, Australia, South Korea, etc, tyre
labelling explaining qualitative benefits of mileage, fuel saving (RR threshold
limits) is mandatory, stated Singh. He also hoped that OEMs will fit such star
rated tyres in new vehicles leaving their factory gates.
With
this new star rating, tyre users will be able to see the star rating of the
tyre on the side walls of the tyre as well as on the wrappers. “This will help
to have to some extent, free and fair play of market forces as customers would
not be short changed by unsubstantiated claims of quality, performance and
safety of tyres,” Singh noted.
He
further emphasised that it’s long overdue that the Motor Vehicles (Amendment)
Act 2019 and its rules specify mandatory auto tyre recall for tyre bursts /
failures. There should be an accountability for the tyres sold in India,
whether domestic or imported, he urged.