The Ministry of Transport and Communications will start preparations for amending the requirements for tyres of heavy vehicles.
If a decision is made to change the requirements, the driving axles of trucks, lorries and buses would have to be fitted with winter tyres with a tread groove of at least 5.0 mm. The requirement would apply from December through February. All other axles of heavy vehicles and their trailers would have to be fitted with tyres that have a tread groove of at least 3.0 mm. The amendment would also apply to tractors with a design speed of over 60 km/h.
The current regulations do not differentiate between winter and other seasons. They apply throughout the year and set the tread groove to at least 1.6 mm. The requirements applied in Finland for tyres to be used in the winter season are less strict than in many other European countries.
The aim of increased use of winter tyres and deeper tread groove is to improve road safety and ease the flow of heavy vehicle traffic. Studies show that the tyres of Finnish and international vehicles already largely meet the new requirements.
Even though the amendments are planned to come into force already this year, they are designed to allow enough time for businesses to react to the possible changes.
The tyre requirements in all vehicle categories will be assessed in connection with the ongoing reform of the road transport legislation.
Inquiries:
Mr Kimmo Kiiski, Senior Adviser, tel. +358 295 34 2304
Mr Mikko Karhunen, Senior Engineer, tel. +358 295 34 2014
