The European Commission issued G/TBT/N/EEC/338 on July 1, 2010: revised draft of Regulation (EC) No 1222/2009 of the European Parliament and the Council on the C1 Tire Wetland grip test method.

This draft regulation replaces the current C1 tire (mainly passenger car tyres) wetland grip index test method specified in UNECE117 published in Part B of Annex I of Regulation (EC) No 1222/2009 Appendix I with more precise test methods. The revision aims to improve the accuracy of the wetland classification results. Accuracy of test results is essential to avoid classification of tires into grip levels that are too high in wet conditions based on test results.

The revision of the UNECE117 wetland grip test method includes the following:

1 Standard tires are SRTT16 "(ASTM F2493-08) instead of SRTT 14" (ASTM E1136);

2 revised the calculation formula for the wetland grip index;

3 clarified the test conditions for ordinary tires and snow tires;

4 In the calculation of the wetland grip index value, the correction of temperature and friction coefficient was introduced.

The notified date for approval of this notification is December 2010, and the proposed effective date is 20 days after publication in the EU Official Gazette (approximately one month after approval) (labeling requirements in Regulation 1222/2009 will begin on November 1, 2012). The deadline for comments is 60 days from the date of notification.