South Meath Driving School

Have you noticed the E-mark on your tyres? Hopefully you did!
The ‘E’ mark or ‘e’ is followed by a number and included in a circle or rectangle. The number denotes the particular country which granted the approval. The number outside the circle or rectangle is the number of the type approval certificate issued for the tyre size and type.

Apart from tyres, other replacement component parts, which must be e-marked, include exhaust silencers, catalytic converters and brake pads.
It is a requirement throughout the EU that motor vehicles have e-marked tyres and this applies to both new and retreaded tyres. An e-mark confirms that a tyre meets the minimum EU or International standard in relation to its dimensions, load and speed rating.

According to the Road Safety Authority, tyres that are not e-marked will not meet the required minimum EU standard. Their performance is likely to be substandard and given the uncertainty over the quality of manufacture, could be at risk of sudden or serious deterioration, endangering the vehicle occupants and other road users. A tyre with tread or ply separation could be at risk of a blow-out or sudden tyre deflation causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle.

Since the 1st of April, 2010, the NCT has included a check to ensure that car tyres are e-marked. Such checks also apply to HGV tyres currently. While there is an obvious onus on the owner of vehicles to check for the e-mark when purchasing tyres, the garage owner or fitter will point out the mark and, if they cannot, such tyres may be substandard, and should not be purchased. Should a purchaser encounter a problem with a supplier, the National Consumer Agency will provide advice.
There are actually ten different type of markings on a tyre which may seem somewhat excessive, but, each serves a purpose; marks like ‘R,’ ‘V,’ ‘205,’ ‘E4,’ etc. all serve to provide a better standard.

Tyre thread is the only contact a motorist has with the road surface.
1 in 8 cars on our roads have a tread that is less than the required 1.6mm in depth.
Such risky vehicles take longer to stop, they cost more in fuel consumption and have greater CO2 emissions. If unsure of your tread depth, have it checked at a garage, or, purchase a depth guage at any motor accessory shop.

Check your tyres for cuts and bulges. With the horrendous condition of link roads at present, it is very difficult to avoid hitting a deep pothole. Actually, on some sections of road, if the potholes were levelled out a little, the road surface would be smooth. Well, it wouldn’t be a great surface, then, but it mightn’t burst a tyre as quickly. I’ve been waiting for a prospective politician to call to my door so I might point out the horror holes on the Newtown road, but, alas, no such Luminaries have got this far, yet.