Euro 7 Set to “Take Nearly Half of All Tires Off the Road”

The upcoming Euro 7 regulation is expected to have a significant impact on tire markets across the EU, as it will be the first legislation to regulate and set standards for particulate emissions from tire abrasion. According to Tyres Europe secretary general Adam McCarthy, the regulation will have a two-stage approach, with stage one setting limits and stage two introducing reductions of the thresholds five years later. The regulation will apply to all new tire types by 2028 and most existing tire types by 2030, with a replacement rate of 28% in the first stage and 41% in the second stage. This means that nearly 50% of tires on the market today will have to be withdrawn from the market due to Euro 7. The regulation will also apply to commercial van and light truck tire types by 2030, and to truck and bus tires, although the industry body is seeking a two-year extension for the latter due to the complexity of the segment. The measurement of tire wear will be via either a road-test method or laboratory/drum test method, both included in the UN agreement. McCarthy noted that the regulation will have a major impact on the tire industry, with many tires needing to be replaced or redesigned to meet the new standards.