Ensure your tyre can withstand UAE heat

Tyres imported illegally put motorists at a higher risk as they are not manufactured to withstand the heat of the UAE.

Motorists are urged to make sure they are not using unofficially imported tyres for their vehicles as such tyres may not be manufactured to withstand the scorching heat of the UAE, according to Michelin Tyre's UAE and Oman commercial director.
No reliable statistics as to the number of "parallel" tyres exist, but Michelin's Daoud Helmi said there is a "significant amount of business conducted in parallel import" in the UAE.
"The real impact, though, is on the consumer as the parallel import does not abide by the local norms and regulations," he noted. The dangers of using inappropriate or worn-out tyres was starkly highlighted in May, when a tyre burst caused a bus carrying pilgrims back from Saudi Arabia to crash and overturn in Abu Dhabi, killing three people and injuring 56.
While counterfeit and "pass-off" tyres are available in the UAE, Helmi said parallel import tyres - which arrive in the country through indirect channels - are the most common in UAE markets.
"Such tyres may be missing key markings or certifications for the importing country," he said. "In order to import tyres into the GCC, tyre importers need to provide certificates of compliance for all imported products."
"The problem happens when non-certified importers bring into the countries products that are not certified by GSO (the GCC Standardisation Organisation)," he added. "By doing so they put at risk the consumer."
The resistance of a tyre to heat is classified as A, B, or C, with A being most suitable to local conditions. Using a tyre not built to withstand the extreme temperatures of the UAE can increase the likelihood of a blowout. Helmi noted that only tyres with an A or B classification can legally be sold in the UAE.
"In countries where temperatures do not come near those in the UAE, tyre code C might be a perfectly fine tyre," he said. "But this is not the case in the UAE."
In an effort to guarantee tyre safety in the UAE, in March the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (Esma) announced that Radio Frequency Identification Device (RIFD) stickers would be applied to new tyres.
"The stickers are issued by UAE authorities and ensure that the tyre sold with an RFID sticker is authorised, homologated and complying with the Gulf/UAE regulations," Helmi explained.
Police across the Emirates are handing out fines to ensure people are using safe tyres.
In Dubai alone, 2,337 violations were handed out for tyre violations in the first four months of 2015.
To avoid buying improper tyres, Helmi urged customers to carefully inspect the tyre to ensure it can deal with the heat and is suitable for customer's car type.
"When buying a tyre, check its temperature code which is engraved on the tyre sidewall," he said.
"Other than the temperature, the information engraved in the tyre's sidewall tells the customer about the size, speed and load index, which are car-model specific, so this should adhere to the standards of the particular vehicle."
bernd@khaleejtmes.com

• UAE
• Dubai

Bernd Debusmann Jr.

bernd@khaleejtimes.com