Want to avoid carrying spare tyre in car? Know the new rules

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways notifies regulations for tyres, safety glass, external projections, among many others, under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989.

Hyderabad: Soon, car owners across the country would not need to keep an additional tyre in the vehicle compulsorily if they meet certain requirements, according to new government rules.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on Wednesday, as part of the amendments made to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989, notified that the requirement of an additional tyre has been done away with in vehicles fitted with tubeless tyres weighing up to a maximum of 3.5 tonnes if they are provided with tyre repair kits and the tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS).

The step is in line with international standards and will leave more space in the vehicles, which may also help in accommodating batteries for electric vehicles, the notification added.

The ministry also notified that the tyre pressure monitoring system installed in such vehicles (manufactured on or after 1 October 2020) should meet technical requirements as mandated by the government (in AIS 154). TPMS monitors the inflation pressure of the tyre or its variation while the vehicle is running and transmits the information to the driver, thereby providing advance information to the driver and enhancing road safety.

Tyre repair kit, meanwhile, refers to an easy to repair kit stored in the vehicle, which in the incident of tyre puncture is used to seal the punctured spot in the tyre tread using specific sealant poured into the tyre along with compressed air.

All India Motor Transport Congress secretary general Naveen Kumar Gupta, however, felt that the idea of removing the spare tyre from the vehicle altogether may not be practical. “In case of a puncture, people may still find replacing a tyre much easier than repairing a tyre... especially now, when there are so many women drivers on road,” Gupta said, adding that the pricing of these additional kits should also be kept competitive in order to avoid consumer exploitation.

Meanwhile, the ministry has also notified that the windscreen and window glass of every motor vehicle -- including agriculture tractor fitted with cabin, or construction equipment vehicle fitted with cabin and combine harvester – shall be made of safety glass or safety glazing material.

The only exception can be made for three-wheelers and vehicles with hood and side coves, where the window glass may be made of acrylic or plastic transparent sheet.

New rules for motorcycles

The ministry has also notified addition of certain safety devices in motorcycles during its manufacturing process.

The notification says that motorcycle manufacturers should ensure there is a provision for pillion handholds on the side of the motorcycle, or behind the driver seat, and it shall comply with the requirement specified by the government (in IS: 14495-1998).

Footrests for the pillion rider should also be present on both sides of the motorcycle. A protective device covering not less than half portion of the rear left wheel of the motorcycle has also been made mandatory so as to prevent the clothes of the person sitting on the pillion getting entangled in the rear wheel.

The amendments have also notified AIS Standards for two-wheeler stands that are currently not regulated and do not have harmonised requirements.

Further, current motor vehicle rules offer no standard for two-wheeler external projections requirements which leads to laceration to pedestrian as well as riders in case of contact with moving vehicle. Now, it has been notified that all the points of contact with the testing device shall have minimum prescribed radius or made up of soft material.

Provisions have also been made to allow the pillion rider in two-wheelers in case a light weight container is placed behind the pillion-rider space, provided the criteria for dimensions and the gross vehicle weight are met.

(ETV Bharat Report)