11.5.  77 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities No C 114/5 
Opinion  on the proposal  for a Council  Directive  on the  approximation  of the  laws  of 
the Member  States  relating  to tyres  for motor  vehicles  and  their  trailers 
The text  referred  to the  Committee  has  been  published  in Official  Journal  of the 
European  Communities  No  C 37 of 14 February  1977,  page  1. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 14 January  1977  the Council  referred  the abovementioned  proposal  to the Economic 
and Social  Committee  in accordance  with  Article  100  of the  Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Economic  Community. 
B. OPINION  OF  THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  prepared  its opinion  on the  above  matter  at its 
147th  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 30 and  31 March  1977. 
The full  text  of the  opinion  is as follows: 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to the Treaty  establishing  the European 
Economic  Community  and,  in particular,  Article  100 
thereof, 
Having  regard  to the request  for an opinion  made  by 
the Council  of  the  European  Communities  on 
14 January  1977, 
Having  regard  to the Decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
25 January  1977,  instructing  the Section  for Industry, 
Commerce,  Crafts  and Services  to draw  up an opinion 
and a report  on the matter, 
Having  regard  to the  opinion  issued  by the  Section 
for Industry,  Commerce,  Crafts  and  Services  on 
2 March  1977, 
Having  regard  to  the  report  submitted  by  the 
rapporteur,  Mr  Masprone,  and  the  co-rapporteur, 
Mr de Grave, 
Having  regard  to the discussions  at its 147th  plenary 
session  held  on 30 and  31 March  1977  (meeting  of 
30 March), 
HAS  ADOPTED  THE  FOLLOWING  OPINION 
unanimously: 
The Committee  approves  the proposal,  subject  to the 
comments  set out below: 
1. General  comments 
1.1. The  Committee  notes  that  the  proposal  is 
concerned  with  one  specific  aspect  of the  approxi-mation  of Member  States'  laws  on motor  vehicles, 
and relates  especially  to  road  safety.  Defining 
characteristics  which  have  a bearing  on tyre  safety 
(e.g. resistance  to blow-outs,  pressure  retention,  road 
grip)  is therefore  of particular  importance. 
1.2. Although  recognizing  that  tyre  safety  is to 
a large  extent  affected  by driving  technique,  the 
Committee  asks  the Commission  to make  a particular 
study  of the  problem  of pressure  retention  of the 
tyre assembly  (tyre  proper,  rim,  valve,  tube).  The 
Committee  considers  that  pressures  must  remain 
unaltered  for  as long  as possible,  and  in any  case 
for at least  twice  the  interval  at which  drivers  are 
normally  recommended  to test  the  condition  of 
their  tyres,  the  reason  being  that  there  are  drivers 
who do not  consistently  comply  with  manufacturers' 
instructions. 
2. Specific  comments 
2.1. Article  1 
2.1.1.  The  Committee  notes  that  vehicle  types 
with  a maximum  speed  over  210  km/h,  and  granted 
type  approval  under  the  general  Directive,  cannot 
be fitted  with  type-approved  tyres.  The  definition 
of 'vehicle'  in Article  1 should  therefore  be amended 
to read: 
'... and  a maximum  design  speed  exceeding 
25 km/h  but  not exceeding  210  km/h'. 
2.1.2.  Vehicles  with  a maximum  speed  of over 
210 km/h  are high-performance  vehicles  manufactured 
on a small  scale.  Tyres  are designed  exclusively  — or 
No C 114/6 Official  Journal  of the European  Communities 11.5.  77 
almost  exclusively  — for  a particular  model.  Both 
tyre and  vehicle  manufacturers  therefore  consider  it 
a matter  of prestige  to ensure  the highest  quality. 
2.1.3.  The  Committee  would  also  point  out  that 
the technical  specifications  contained  in the  Directive 
should  not  apply  to tyres  designed  and  manufactured 
specifically  for  cars  built  before  1950  since  there  are 
not many  of such  cars  around.  The  Committee  would 
like to make  the  further  point  that  highly  specialized 
tyres  such  as those  used  in car  races  or rallies  are 
built  with  a particular  car  or race  track  in mind. 
Such  tyres  should  therefore  not  come  within  the 
scope  of the  Directive. 
2.1.4.  The  Committee  considers  that  the  definition 
of 'tyre'  should  be amended  to read  as follows: 
'Tyre  means  any  new  tyre  intended  for  vehicles 
built  after  1950,  and  having  a maximum  speed 
Done  at Brussels,  30 March  1977. less or  equal  to  210  km/h.  Makes  of  tyre 
specifically  designed  and  manufactured  for  sports 
competitions  shall  not  be covered  by the Directive'. 
2.2. Article  6 (1) and  Article  6 (2) 
2.2.1.  The  Committee  points  out  that  there  is a 
danger  that  the  first  paragraph  of Article  6 may 
cause  Member  States  to introduce  subsequent  technical 
barriers;  this  would  be in conflict  with  the  spirit  of 
the Directive.  The  Committee  also  feels  that  the 
six-week  period  stipulated  in Article  6 (2) is too  long 
in view  of the  fact  that  consumers  would  be exposed 
to serious  safety  hazards  under  the  circumstances 
mentioned. 
3. The  Committee  would  finally  draw  the  attention 
of the  Commission  to the  remarks  made  in the 
Section's  report. 
The Chairman 
of the Economic  and  Social  Committee 
Basil  de FERRANTI 
Opinion  on the  proposal  for  a Council  Directive  on the  approximation  of the  laws  of 
the Member  States  relating  to heating  systems  for  the  passenger  compartment  of motor 
vehicles 
The text  referred  to the  Committee  has  been  published  in Official  Journal  of  the 
European  Communities  No  C 37 of 14 February  1977,  page  22. 
A. LEGAL  BASIS  FOR  THE  OPINION 
On 14 January  1977  the Council  referred  the abovementioned  proposal  to the Economic 
and Social  Committee  in accordance  with  Article  100  of the  Treaty  establishing  the 
European  Economic  Community. 
B. OPINION  OF  THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE 
The Economic  and  Social  Committee  prepared  its opinion  on the  above  matter  at its 
147th  plenary  session,  held  in Brussels  on 30 and  31 March  1977. 
The full  text  of the  opinion  is as follows: 
THE  ECONOMIC  AND  SOCIAL  COMMITTEE, 
Having  regard  to the Treaty  establishing  the European 
Economic  Community  and,  in particular,  Article  100 
thereof, 
Having  regard  to the  request  for an opinion  made  by 
the Council  of  the  European  Communities  on 
14 January  1977, Having  regard  to the  Decision  taken  by its Bureau  on 
25 January  1977,  instructing  the  Section  for Industry, 
Commerce,  Crafts  and  Services  to draw  up an opinion 
on the matter, 
Having  regard  to the  opinion  issued  by the  Section 
for Industry,  Commerce,  Crafts  and  Services  on 
2 March  1977,