DVSA has clarified its policy on issuing an advisory notice at annual test when a Vehicle Standards Assessor cannot gain access to the four-digit date code on a tyre that is part of a twin-wheel setup.
It says that such an advisory functions as “a reminder to the [vehicle] presenter or operator that they need to be confident in their tyre management system.” DVSA adds that those mechanisms should enable the operator to know the age and legality of all its tyres and to take “appropriate action” when needed. However, DVSA adds that issue of an advisory notice for lack of access to the tyre date code does not:
- Reflect poorly on the operator
- Affect the roadworthiness status of the vehicle
- Affect an Operator Compliance Risk Score.
The advisory was introduced on 1 February, at the same time as the ban on the use of tyres aged 10 years or older on the front steered axle of coaches and buses and on any axle with single wheels on a minibus. However, the Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness states that the manufacturer’s date code must be legible on all tyres fitted to those vehicles, regardless of the axle position.
It remains the case that when a date code is missing or damaged on a tyre fitted to a front steer axle, or any axle with single wheels on a minibus, failure at annual test will result. If the same is discovered by DVSA at a roadworthiness check an immediate S-marked prohibition will be issued.
