The demand for safety related features of tyres is ever increasing. Hence years ago the so called “3-Peak-Mountain-Snow-Flake (3PMSF)” – symbol was introduced: a performance related tyre marking for traction and breaking properties in wintery road conditions. Whereas the existing “M+S” marking has been a “self-declaration” of the tyre manufacturer without specific test procedure, the 3PMSF-symbol visualises and guarantees a minimum winter performance in relation to a “Standard Reference Test Tyre (SRTT)” (with a performance similar to a normal summer tyre).
To enable retreaders to test and mark their retreads with the 3PMSF-symbol, amendments to the existing ECE-R 108/109 regulations have been prepared and implemented. This was initiated and supported by BIPAVER. An important step to keep retreads competitive to new tyres. The already existing amendment for retreaded truck tyre to R109 has been up-dated in an additional amendment, whereas for retreaded passenger tyres the required amendments to R108 have been initiated only last year by BIPAVER and are now implemented as well.
The 3PMSF marking and the related winter performance is already implemented in the national German Winter Tyre Regulation (before it has been the “M+S” marking) to identify a tyre as “suitable for the use in wintery conditions” and it is expected that other countries will follow to implement the 3PMSF symbol/performance as mandatory for winter tyres.
The relevant amendments to ECE-R 108/109 can be downloaded in their final versions following the link http://www.unece.org/trans/latest-document/vehicle-regulations-latest-regulations-rules-updates.html?type=111 and selecting documents “R108am4e” or “R109r1am3e”.
UN-ECE regulations with all revisions and amendments can generally be accessed under https://www.unece.org/trans/main/welcwp29.html and selecting under “Agreements and Regulations” the point “UN Regulations(1958 Agreement)” and then “UN Regulations (addenda to the 1958 Agreement”. Then the relevant Regulation number can be called up (e.g. “Regs 101-120” and then “108” or “109”).
