In a recent announcement, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) announced that free rolling tyres fitted to steering axles will be classified as a major deficiency. This means that any vehicle found with free rolling tyres on its steering axle will be deemed unfit for use and will fail its annual test. In this blog, we take a look at what this could mean for you.
What are free rolling tyres?
A free rolling tyre (FRT) is a special kind of tyre that is designed for use on the axles of a motor vehicle. These tyres are marked with the letters FRT and are used in conjunction with other types of tyres on other parts of the vehicle.
The reason they’re called “free rolling” is that they can roll freely even when they’re not attached to an axle, unlike regular tyres which are placed on rims and cannot roll freely when detached from the axle.
When are the changes taking place?
Changes to the free rolling tyre test are coming into effect on April 2023. The rolling tyre test will be updated for HGVs and PSVs in early 2023, and manual updates will be made available to drivers. Drivers have 6 months from this date to make any necessary changes to their vehicles.
Check your tyres
Test candidates will need to be able to demonstrate that they are aware of the importance of checking their vehicle each day and are capable of carrying out these checks correctly, using the correct equipment. Vehicles used for the driving test must be compliant with all current legislation and regulations, including those relating to keeping your car in good working order.
To ensure the safety of you and your passengers, we strongly recommend you check your tyres daily as part of a daily walkaround. It only takes a few minutes and can help you avoid the risk of tyre damage, blowouts or loss of control. The DVSA will refuse to carry out the test if a vehicle isn’t ‘roadworthy’, meaning that it is not safe to drive.
For more information on how we can help you adapt your vehicle to the latest legislation, contact us today.
