UN R117 — Supplement 14 to the 02 series of amendments

New paragraph 2.13.1.1. defines an “ice grip tyre”, which must fulfil the requirements of paragraph 6.4.2. It is a class C1 snow tyre for use in severe snow conditions that is additionally designed for use on road surfaces covered with ice. To be classified as ice grip tyre, a snow tyre for use in severe snow conditions must meet a minimum ice grip index (paragraph 6.4.2.). For class C1, this minimum is 1.18, with SRTT16 as reference and the index calculated with the procedure of Annex 8. Until 3 months after Supplement 14 enters into force, Contracting Parties applying this Regulation can continue to grant 02 series type approvals without its provisions.

New item (f) of paragraph 2.1. makes “whether ice grip tyre or not” an essential characteristic of a type of tyre, for class C1 tyres. Paragraph 3.1.1. adds the “ice performance level” in case of ice grip tyre to the performance characteristics to be assessed. New paragraph 3.1.5.3. adds to the application: for class C1 tyres, whether ice grip tyre or not. Tyres must bear the “Ice Grip Symbol” (4.2.6.1.) if the snow tyre for use in severe snow conditions is additionally classified as ice grip tyre. In Annex 1, new item 4.1.1. asks whether the tyre is an ice grip tyre, and new item 8.4.1. asks for the ice performance level. Paragraph 3.2.2. no longer asks the sidewall drawings or photographs to show the information given in paragraph 3.1.8.

New Annex 8 sets the braking on ice method for class C1 tyres. The method compares the mean fully developed deceleration of a candidate tyre in an ABS braking test with that of a reference tyre. For the ice performance of class C1 tyres, the reference tyre is SRTT16. Braking tests of a candidate tyre take place in three non-consecutive braking test cycles. Each braking test of a test tyre needs at least nine valid test runs. Appendix 2 of Annex 8 gives test reports and test data for C1 tyres.

New paragraphs 2.19.12. to 2.19.16. define “test run”, “braking test”, “traction test”, “acceleration test” and “test cycle”. New paragraphs 2.19.3. and 2.19.5. define “reference tyre” and “test tyre”. Paragraph 2. of Annex 5, Part (A), now says that its definitions apply in addition to the definitions in paragraph 2. of the main body. In Annex 5, Part (A), paragraphs 2.1. to 2.5. are deleted, and the next paragraphs get new numbers. In Annex 7, paragraphs 1. to 1.2. and 1.4. are deleted, and paragraph 1.3. becomes paragraph 1. In Annex 7, paragraph 1. now says that the traction test must be performed according to ASTM standard.

Under paragraph 8.2., the authority which has granted type approval may at any time check the conformity control methods applied by the manufacturer. In general, these methods should take into consideration the production volumes of the type of tyre at each manufacturing facility. Paragraph 8.3. now holds the rules on random samples from the series production and on sets of tyres tested at the same time. New paragraph 8.3.2. requires verification tests for approvals under paragraph 6.4. with the same testing method (see Annex 7) as for the original approval. Paragraphs 8.3. and 8.4. become 8.4. and 8.5., and paragraph 9.1. refers to the new numbers.

In Annex 5, Part (A), candidate tyre data are discarded and the braking test repeated if one CVµ is greater than 4 per cent. Before, this limit was 5 per cent. Under paragraph 4.2.4.2., for “self-watering” systems, the tow vehicle and trailer or the tyre test vehicle may now be optionally equipped with a pavement-wetting system. New footnotes say that CVal(µpeak) and CVal(BFCave) are not defined nor applied for classes C2 and C3 tyres. In paragraph 2.18., the ASTM standard for SRTT16 is now F2493 – 20 instead of F2493 – 19.

Paragraphs 1.1. and 6.2.1. change capital letters, for example “Class C1” now reads “class C1”. Paragraphs 6.2. and 12.1. use “wet adhesion” instead of “wet grip performance”. Unit names change, for example “meter” now reads “metres” and “newton” now reads “newtons”. Annex 2, Appendices 2 and 4, delete footnote 1. It said approvals under Regulation No. 117 for tyres within the scope of Regulation No. 54 “currently do not include wet adhesion requirements”.