1. The Working Party on Noise and Tyres (GRBP) held its seventy-second virtual session from 8 to 9 September 2020 in Geneva. The meeting was chaired by Mr. S. Ficheux (France). Experts from the following countries participated in the work following Rule 1(a) of the Rules of Procedure of the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) (TRANS/WP.29/690/Rev.1): Canada, China, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, San Marino, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America. An expert from the European Commission (EC) participated. Experts from the following non-governmental organizations also participated: Bureau International Permanent des Associations de Vendeurs et Rechapeurs de pneumatiques (BIPAVER), European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA), European Tyre and Rim Technical Organization (ETRTO), Motorcycle Manufacturers Association (IMMA), International Organization for Standardization (ISO), Imported Tyre Manufacturers Association (ITMA) and International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA).

2. GRBP considered and adopted the agenda (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRBP/2020/7, as amended by GRBP-72-01). GRBP noted the running order proposed by the Chair (GRBP-72-03). The list of informal documents is contained in Annex I of the session report. The list of GRBP informal groups is reproduced in Annex XI.

GRBP-72-01 | GRBP-72: Updates to the provisional agenda of the October 2020 session

GRBP-72-03 | GRBP-72: Running order and tentative timetable

GRBP/2020/7 | Annotated provisional agenda for the 72nd (7 - 9 September 2020) GRBP session

3. GRBP considered a proposal for a new series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 41 which was submitted by the Informal Working Group on Additional Sound Emission Provisions (IWG ASEP) (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRBP/2020/9). The experts of the European Commission and Germany proposed new dates for the transitional provisions in paragraph 12 (GRBP-72-05). GRBP adopted the proposal as amended by Annex II of the session and requested the secretariat to submit it to WP.29 and the Administrative Committee (AC.1) for consideration and vote at their March 2021 sessions as a draft 05 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 41.

GRBP-72-05 | UN R41: Proposal for amendments to GRBP/2020/9

GRBP/2020/9 | UN R41: Proposal for a new 05 series of amendments Proposals prepared by the ASEP II informal working group to clarify UN R41 and introduce provisions to improve testing to be more representative of real-world operation by expanding the scope of tests.

4. Referring to Article 12, paragraph 4 of the 1958 Agreement, the expert from EC proposed a modification to the transitional provision on the possibility of granting type approvals according to the preceding series of amendments (GRBP-72-14). GRBP was informed that the expert of EC had transmitted a similar modification to amendment proposals to other UN Regulations under different agenda items (see paras. 5, 22 and 23 below). GRBP noted that this issue relates to the WP.29 Guidelines on Transitional provisions (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/1044/Rev.2) and invited the expert of EC to bring it to WP.29 for consideration. GRBP also agreed to revert to this issue at its next session, if necessary.

GRBP-72-14 | UN R41: Proposal for amendments to document GRBP/2020/9

5. The expert from IMMA proposed aligning UN Regulation No. 41 with standard ISO 10844:2014 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRBP/2020/18). GRBP adopted the proposal and requested the secretariat to submit it to WP.29 and AC.1 for consideration and vote at their March 2021 sessions as a draft Supplement 8 to the 04 series of amendments and as part of the new draft 05 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 41 (see para. 4 above). The expert of EC reiterated his view on the transitional provision about granting type approvals according to preceding series of amendments (GRBP-72-13).

GRBP-72-13 | UN R41: Proposal for amendments to document GRBP/2020/18

GRBP/2020/18 | UN R41: Proposal for amendments to the 04 series of amendments Per the transitional provisions of Supplement 3 to the 04 series of amendments, from 20 January 2021, the specifications for the test site reproduced in Annex 4 will be replaced by the provisions of ISO 10844:2014. Therefore, this proposal aims to align the 04 series of amendments with ISO 10844:2014, replacing provisions from ISO 10844:1998 (and proposing a clearer image for Figure 1).

6. On behalf of IWG ASEP, the expert from Germany reported on their activities (GRBP-72-16) and proposed modifications to the Terms of Reference (ToR) (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRBP/2020/10 and GRBP-72-17). GRBP adopted the revised ToR as laid down in Annex III of the session report.

GRBP-72-16 | Status report of the ASEP II informal group

GRBP-72-17 | UN R51: Proposal for amendments to document GRBP/2020/10

GRBP/2020/10 | UN R51: Proposal for revised Terms of Reference for IWG ASEP

7. The expert from Norway, in his capacity as Chair, Informal Working Group on Measurement Uncertainties (IWG MU), reported on the progress of IWG MU (GRBP-72-11) and proposed revised ToR (GRBP-72-10). GRBP adopted the revised ToR of IWG MU as laid down in Annex IV of the session report.

GRBP-72-10 | Sound Measurement Uncertainties: Terms of reference for an informal working group

GRBP-72-11 | Status report of the Sound Measurement Uncertainties informal group

8. The expert of EC informed GRBP about progress of the study on the sound level limits of M- and N-category vehicles (GRBP-72-25). The expert from Japan thanked EC for sharing this information and pointed out that his country was also conducting a similar study.

GRBP-72-25 | Study on sound level limits of M- and N-category vehicles

9. GRBP decided to extend the mandate of IWG on Quiet Road Transport Vehicles for the Global Technical Regulation (GTR) until December 2021.

10. The expert from the European Tyre and Rim Technical Organization (ETRTO) introduced a proposal for amendments that allows for tyre marking methods other than moulding (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRBP/2020/12). GRBP adopted the proposal and requested the secretariat to submit it to WP.29 and AC.1 for consideration and vote at their March 2021 sessions as a draft Supplement 23 to the 02 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 30.

GRBP/2020/12 | UN R30: Proposal for amendments

11. The expert from France proposed a new definition of “radial tyre” (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRBP/2020/21 and GRBP-72-22), which was amended by the expert from EC (GRBP-72-24). The expert from Japan held the view that the proposal was not sufficiently clear. The expert of ETRTO pointed out that his organization would need technical justification to support the proposal. The Chair invited all experts concerned to internally re-discuss the proposal and to submit an updated document to the next session.

GRBP-72-22 | Radial definition proposal

GRBP-72-24 | UN R30: Proposal for amendments to document GRBP/2020/21

GRBP/2020/21 | UN R30: Proposal for a Supplement to the 02 series of amendments Proposal to expand and improve the current definition of a radial structure while ensuring the radial tyres key features (mechanical decoupling between the tread and the bead).

12. The expert from ETRTO recalled the recent adoption of Amendment No. 2 to UN GTR No. 16 (Tyres) and proposed to elaborate a roadmap for transposing of its provisions into appropriate UN Regulations (GRBP-72-07). GRBP thanked ETRTO for the initiative and agreed to revert to this issue at the next session.

GRBP-72-07 | GTR 16 transposition roadmap proposal

13. GRBP considered a proposal for amendments that had been submitted by the expert from ETRTO (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRBP/2020/13, GRBP-72-27 and GRBP-72-30). GRBP adopted the proposal, as amended by Annex V of the session report, and requested the secretariat to submit it to WP.29 and AC.1 for consideration and vote at their March 2021 sessions as a draft Supplement 24 to the original series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 54.

GRBP-72-27 | UN R54: Proposal for amendments to document GRBP/2020/13

GRBP-72-30 | UN R54: Proposal for amendments to document GRBP/2020/13

GRBP/2020/13 | UN R54: Proposal for amendments

14. The expert from ETRTO proposed several modifications (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRBP/2020/14, GRBP-71-07-Rev.1 and GRBP-72-28). GRBP adopted the proposal, as amended by Annex VI of the session report, and requested the secretariat to submit it to WP.29 and AC.1 for consideration and vote at their March 2021 sessions as a draft Supplement 19 to the original series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 75.

GRBP-71-07/Rev.1 | UN R30, R54, R75 Report on study to amend the Dimensional Requirements for tyres with radial or run flat structure

GRBP-72-28 | UN R75: Proposal for amendments to document GRBP/2020/14

GRBP/2020/14 | UN R75: Proposal for amendments

15. GRBP considered a proposal for amendments that had been submitted by the expert from ETRTO (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRBP/2020/15 and GRBP-72-08). GRBP adopted the proposal, as amended by Annex VII of the session report, and requested the secretariat to submit it to WP.29 and AC.1 for consideration and vote at their March 2021 sessions as a draft Supplement 19 to the original series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 106.

GRBP-72-08 | UN R106: Proposal for amendments to document GRBP/2020/15

GRBP/2020/15 | UN R106: Proposal for amendments Proposal for alternative language regarding markings to avoid use of the term "moulded" which could be interpreted as a technical design restriction.

16. The expert from ETRTO introduced an amendment proposal with the aim to improve the reproducibility of the test method from standard ISO 23671 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRBP/2020/16). Following concerns of the experts from Germany and Spain about paragraph 4.1.2.1. of Annex 5, part A, the expert from ETRTO proposed a modification to this paragraph (GRBP-72-29). GRBP adopted the proposal, as amended by Annex VIII of the session report, and requested the secretariat to submit it to WP.29 for consideration and vote at their March 2021 sessions as a draft Supplement 13 to the 02 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 117.

17. The expert from ETRTO proposed further amendments with a view to modifying the word “moulded” in tyre marking methods and replacing the Standard Reference Test Tyre SRTT14 by SRTT16 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRBP/2020/17). GRBP adopted the proposal, subject to deletion of paragraph 9.1., and requested the secretariat to submit it to WP.29 and for consideration and vote at their March 2021 sessions as part of draft Supplement 13 to the 02 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 117.

GRBP-72-29 | UN R117: Proposal for amendments to document GRBP/2020/16

GRBP/2020/16 | UN R117: Proposal for amendment

GRBP/2020/17 | UN R117: Proposal for amendment

18. On behalf of IWG for Wet Grip on Worn Tyres (WGWT), the expert of ETRTO reported on their progress (GRBP-72-06) and introduced amendments to the IWG Terms of Reference (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRBP/2020/11). The expert of EC proposed to extend the IWG scope to C2 and C3 tyres (GRBP-72-02). The expert from ETRTO commented on this proposal (GRBP-72-26-Rev.1). Following a discussion, GRBP was not in a position to reach a consensus on the EC proposal and decided to come back to revision of ToR at the next session. Meanwhile, GRBP agreed to request WP.29 to extend the mandate of IWG WGWT until September 2021.

GRBP-72-02 | Worn tyres: Proposal for working group terms of reference

GRBP-72-06 | Status report of the Working Group on Worn Tyres

GRBP-72-26/Rev.1 | Comments on Worn Tyres working group terms of reference

GRBP/2020/11 | UN R117: Proposal for revised Terms of Reference of the IWG WGWT (Wet Grip Performance for Tyres in a Worn State)

19. GRBP was informed about the progress of the Task Force on Studded Tyres (TF ST) and of the group of interested experts (GOIE) on snow tyres provisions (GRBP-72-15 and GRBP-72-23, respectively).

GRBP-72-15 | Status report of the Studded Tyres task force

GRBP-72-23 | Snow tyre provisions - status report

20. The expert from the Russian Federation proposed aligning the criteria on the total loss of inflation pressure within one minute in Annex 8, paragraph 3 and in paragraph 5 (c) (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRBP/2020/8). GRBP adopted the proposal and requested the secretariat to submit it to WP.29 and AC.1 for consideration and vote at their March 2021 sessions as draft Supplement 2 to the original series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 124.

GRBP/2020/8 | UN R124: Proposal for amendments

21. The expert from Germany proposed amendments with a view to adapting UN Regulation No. 124 to the current requirements for type approvals (GRBP-72-04). GRBP invited him to submit an official document for consideration at the next session.

GRBP-72-04 | UN R124: Proposal for amendments Proposal to require wheel attachments with three or more fixing components (nuts or studs) in the scope of the Regulation, to restrict the difference in pitch circle diameter (PCD) of a wheel type comprised of more than two versions, to carry out additional rotating bending tests on each version with a PCD difference to a tested version of more than 6.5 mm, and to establish specifications for comparison of replica wheels with the minimum level of the vehicle manufacturer´s replacement wheels.

22. GRBP took note of the activities of the Task Force on Tyre Pressure Monitoring System and on Tyre Installation (TF TPMSTI) (GRBP-72-21) and addressed its proposal for a new series of amendments (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRBP/2020/20, GRBP-72-19-Rev.2, GRBP-72-20). GRBP adopted the proposal, as amended by Annex IX of the session report, and requested the secretariat to submit it to WP.29 and AC.1 for consideration and vote at their March 2021 sessions as a new 01 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 141. During the adoption, the expert of EC recalled his intention to seek WP.29 guidance on the transitional provision about granting type approvals according to preceding series of amendments (see para. 4 above).

GRBP-72-19/Rev.2 | UN R141: Proposal for amendments to document GRBP/2020/20

GRBP-72-20 | TPMS testing: validation of the proposed amendments to UN Regulation No. 141

GRBP-72-21 | Status report of the TPMSTI task force

GRBP/2020/20 | UN R141: Proposal for 01 series of amendments Text prepared by the experts of TF TPMSTI in order to align with the provisions of European Union Regulation 2019/2144 and to introduce the TPMS requirements for all vehicle categories

23. On behalf of TF TPMSTI, the expert from EC presented a proposal for a new series of amendments (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRBP/2020/19, GRBP-72-18). GRBP adopted the proposal, as amended by Annex X of the session report, and requested the secretariat to submit it to WP.29 and AC.1 for consideration and vote at their March 2021 sessions as a new 01 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 141. During the adoption, the expert of EC recalled his intention to seek WP.29 guidance on the transitional provision about granting type approvals according to the preceding series of amendments (see para. 4 above).

GRBP-72-18 | UN R142: Proposal for amendments to document GRBP/2020/19

GRBP/2020/19 | UN R142: Proposal for a new 01 series of amendments The text has been prepared by the experts of the Task Force on Tyre Pressure Monitoring System and Tyre Installation (TF TPMSTI) in order to align with the provisions of European Union Regulation 2019/2144 and to introduce the tyre installation requirements for all vehicle categories

24. On behalf of the Task Force on Reverse Warning (TF RW), the expert from Japan reported on the progress of TF RW (GRBP-72-09).

GRBP-72-09 | Status report of the Reversing Warnings Task Force

25. GRBP agreed to postpone consideration of this item to the next session.

26. No issues were considered under this item.

27. GRBP agreed to postpone consideration of this item to the next session.

28. GRBP agreed to postpone consideration of this item to the next session.

29. The Chair presented a revised list of priorities and recurrent items (GRBP-72-12). GRBP noted that the list would be updated and reported to WP.29.

GRBP-72-12 | GRBP priorities

30. The expert from France presented an updated 2020 schedule of meetings that was of interest to GRBP experts (GRBP-71-13-Rev.3).

GRBP-71-13/Rev.3 | 2020 schedule of meetings of interest to GRBP experts

31. For its seventy-third session, scheduled to be held in Geneva from 26 to 29 January 2021, GRBP decided to keep the same structure for the provisional agenda. GRBP noted that the deadline for the submission of official documents to the secretariat would be 3 November 2020, twelve weeks prior to the session. With regard to informal documents, the Chair requested GRBP experts to submit them at least one week prior to the session.

32. In compliance with Rule 37 of the Rules of Procedure (TRANS/WP.29/690/Rev.1), GRBP called for the election of officers. The representatives of the Contracting Parties, present and voting, elected unanimously Mr. Serge Ficheux (France) as Chair and Mr. Andrei Bocharov (Russian Federation) as Vice-Chair for the sessions of GRBP scheduled for the year 2021.