22. The secretariat reported on the highlights of the March and June 2018 sessions of WP.29. In particular, GRB noted that, following a request of the Inland Transport Committee, WP.29 had decided to convert the Working Party on Brakes and Running Gear (GRRF) into a new Working Party “Groupe de Rapporteurs pour les Véhicules Autonomes” (GRVA) and to reallocate some former GRRF activities to other Working Parties. In particular, all GRRF activities on tyres had been passed on to GRB, and the WP.29 programme of work had been modified accordingly. In order to explicitly reflect the new GRB responsibilities on tyre-related issues WP.29 proposed adapting the title of GRB to GRBP (Groupe Rapporteur Bruit et Pneumatiques). A final decision on this point would be taken at the November 2018 session of WP.29.

23. The Chair pointed out that, given the enlarged scope of GRB activities, it would need longer sessions to properly address all items. He requested the secretariat to explore the possibilities of adjusting the WP.29 calendar for 2019.

28. The expert from ETRTO proposed amendments to UN Regulations Nos. 30 and 64 which introduce provisions related to extended mobility tyres (EMT) (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRVA/2018/6, ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRVA/2018/7 and GRB-68-14). He pointed out that EMT were already available on the market and needed to be regulated. The experts from Germany, Italy and Japan supported the proposals. The experts from France, Netherlands and Switzerland posed questions. The expert from UK requested data on the availability of EMT on the market. GRB was of the view that Contracting Parties needed more time to study the proposals and decided to defer this item to the next session. Meanwhile, GRB experts were invited to study the proposals and send their remarks to ETRTO.

17. GRB resumed consideration of the ETRTO proposals for amendments to UN Regulations Nos. 30 and 64 which introduce provisions on extended mobility tyres (EMT) (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRVA/2018/6, ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRVA/2018/7 and GRB-68-14). In reply to the questions raised at the previous session, the expert of ETRTO presented GRB-69-12. GRB adopted the proposals and requested the secretariat to submit them to WP.29 and AC.1 for consideration and vote at their June 2019 sessions as a draft Supplement 21 to the 02 series of amendments UN Regulation No. 30 and a draft Supplement 1 to the 03 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 64.

Proposal to introduce a definition for “Extended Mobility Tyre” based on a new “minimum requirement” performance test procedure with the relevant pictogram to be used to properly distinguish such tyres. This document will be handled by GRB during its 68th session and is referenced under GRVA due to the “conversion” of GRRF.

28. The expert from ETRTO proposed amendments to UN Regulations Nos. 30 and 64 which introduce provisions related to extended mobility tyres (EMT) (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRVA/2018/6, ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRVA/2018/7 and GRB-68-14). He pointed out that EMT were already available on the market and needed to be regulated. The experts from Germany, Italy and Japan supported the proposals. The experts from France, Netherlands and Switzerland posed questions. The expert from UK requested data on the availability of EMT on the market. GRB was of the view that Contracting Parties needed more time to study the proposals and decided to defer this item to the next session. Meanwhile, GRB experts were invited to study the proposals and send their remarks to ETRTO.

17. GRB resumed consideration of the ETRTO proposals for amendments to UN Regulations Nos. 30 and 64 which introduce provisions on extended mobility tyres (EMT) (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRVA/2018/6, ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRVA/2018/7 and GRB-68-14). In reply to the questions raised at the previous session, the expert of ETRTO presented GRB-69-12. GRB adopted the proposals and requested the secretariat to submit them to WP.29 and AC.1 for consideration and vote at their June 2019 sessions as a draft Supplement 21 to the 02 series of amendments UN Regulation No. 30 and a draft Supplement 1 to the 03 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 64.

Proposal to amend UN R64 in line with the introduction of the “extended mobility tyre” into UN R30 (see document GRVA/2018/6). This document will be handled by GRB during its 68th session and is referenced under GRVA due to the “conversion” of GRRF.

28. The expert from ETRTO proposed amendments to UN Regulations Nos. 30 and 64 which introduce provisions related to extended mobility tyres (EMT) (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRVA/2018/6, ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRVA/2018/7 and GRB-68-14). He pointed out that EMT were already available on the market and needed to be regulated. The experts from Germany, Italy and Japan supported the proposals. The experts from France, Netherlands and Switzerland posed questions. The expert from UK requested data on the availability of EMT on the market. GRB was of the view that Contracting Parties needed more time to study the proposals and decided to defer this item to the next session. Meanwhile, GRB experts were invited to study the proposals and send their remarks to ETRTO.

17. GRB resumed consideration of the ETRTO proposals for amendments to UN Regulations Nos. 30 and 64 which introduce provisions on extended mobility tyres (EMT) (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRVA/2018/6, ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRVA/2018/7 and GRB-68-14). In reply to the questions raised at the previous session, the expert of ETRTO presented GRB-69-12. GRB adopted the proposals and requested the secretariat to submit them to WP.29 and AC.1 for consideration and vote at their June 2019 sessions as a draft Supplement 21 to the 02 series of amendments UN Regulation No. 30 and a draft Supplement 1 to the 03 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 64.

Proposal to

1. modify the scope with regard to Category S and R agricultural vehicles,
2. modify the paragraph numbering (and related footnotes) to improve text clarity,
3. to correct an error in Annex 5 Table 7 where “35×16” should read “36×16”,
4. amend Annex 7 Part E to address variations of load-carrying capacity for tyres for construction applications (industrial tractors or skid-steers / mini-loaders) with speed category symbol “D”.

29. The expert from ETRTO proposed to clarify the scope of UN Regulation No. 106 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRVA/2018/8). GRB adopted the proposals and requested the secretariat to submit them to WP.29 and AC.1 for consideration and vote at their March 2019 sessions as a draft Supplement 17 to the original series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 106, subject to the following modifications:

Paragraph 1.2. (new), amend to read:

“1.2. This UN Regulation does not apply to the following tyres:”

30. The expert from ETRTO introduced draft amendments to UN Regulation No. 117 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRVA/2018/5 and GRB-68-12). The proposal received comments from the experts of Germany, Spain, United States of America and BIPAVER. The Chair invited other experts to transmit their remarks to ETRTO with a view to submitting a revised consolidated proposal to the next session.

23. The expert from ETRTO recalled their proposal for draft amendments tabled at the previous session (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRVA/2018/5 and GRB-68-12) and requested GRB to postpone the discussion to the next session.

14. The expert from ETRTO recalled the postponed proposal for amendments (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRVA/2018/5 and GRB-68-12) and presented complementary modifications (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRBP/2019/19, GRBP-70-21-Rev.2). Various experts posed clarifying questions, in particular, on the use of terms “repeatability” and “reproducibility”. Following an in-depth discussion, GRBP adopted the proposals, as amended by Annex III, and requested the secretariat to submit them to WP.29 and AC.1 for consideration and vote at their March 2020 sessions as a draft Supplement 11 to the 02 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 117.

Proposal to update certain Standard Reference Test Tyre (SRTT) denominations, to remove the distinction between the two Class C3 tyres, to clarify the text and remove the reference to tyres “not marked with speed symbol”. This document will be handled by GRB during its 68th session and is referenced under GRVA due to the “conversion” of GRRF.

30. The expert from ETRTO introduced draft amendments to UN Regulation No. 117 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRVA/2018/5 and GRB-68-12). The proposal received comments from the experts of Germany, Spain, United States of America and BIPAVER. The Chair invited other experts to transmit their remarks to ETRTO with a view to submitting a revised consolidated proposal to the next session.

23. The expert from ETRTO recalled their proposal for draft amendments tabled at the previous session (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRVA/2018/5 and GRB-68-12) and requested GRB to postpone the discussion to the next session.

14. The expert from ETRTO recalled the postponed proposal for amendments (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRVA/2018/5 and GRB-68-12) and presented complementary modifications (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRBP/2019/19, GRBP-70-21-Rev.2). Various experts posed clarifying questions, in particular, on the use of terms “repeatability” and “reproducibility”. Following an in-depth discussion, GRBP adopted the proposals, as amended by Annex III, and requested the secretariat to submit them to WP.29 and AC.1 for consideration and vote at their March 2020 sessions as a draft Supplement 11 to the 02 series of amendments to UN Regulation No. 117.

31. The expert of ETRTO presented an overview of activities of the tyre industry and ISO with the aim to improve wet grip test method for passenger car tyres (C1) (GRB-68-15). GRB took note of this information.

Proposal to update the original authorization pursuant to the transfer of responsibility for tyre regulations from GRRF (now GRVA) to GRB (expected to become GRBP).

32. The expert of the Russian Federation, in his capacity of Chair of IWG on Tyres dealing with the development of Amendment 2 to UN GTR No. 16 (IWG Tyre GTR), presented their progress report (GRB-68-16) as well as a proposal for an addendum to the authorization (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/AC.3/48) to develop Amendment No. 2 to UN GTR No. 16 (GRB-68-07). GRB took note of the status report and agreed that the proposed addendum to ECE/TRANS/WP.29/AC.3/48 should be submitted to the Executive Committee of the 1998 Agreement (AC.3).

Status after the 19th IWG Meeting (Geneva, 11-12 September 2018)

32. The expert of the Russian Federation, in his capacity of Chair of IWG on Tyres dealing with the development of Amendment 2 to UN GTR No. 16 (IWG Tyre GTR), presented their progress report (GRB-68-16) as well as a proposal for an addendum to the authorization (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/AC.3/48) to develop Amendment No. 2 to UN GTR No. 16 (GRB-68-07). GRB took note of the status report and agreed that the proposed addendum to ECE/TRANS/WP.29/AC.3/48 should be submitted to the Executive Committee of the 1998 Agreement (AC.3).

33. In connection with the activities of IWG Tyre GTR, the expert from United States of America presented the outcome of the North American all-season tyre pre-meeting (GRB-68-17). The expert of ETRTO briefly introduced proposals for amendments to UN GTR No. 16 which would be presented in detail at the next session of GRB (GRB-68-18). The expert of ETRTO reported on developing a harmonized high speed test based on the two such tests listed in UN GTR No. 16, namely the one based on UN Regulation No. 30 and the other one based on the American Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 139 (GRB-68-24).

33. In connection with the activities of IWG Tyre GTR, the expert from United States of America presented the outcome of the North American all-season tyre pre-meeting (GRB-68-17). The expert of ETRTO briefly introduced proposals for amendments to UN GTR No. 16 which would be presented in detail at the next session of GRB (GRB-68-18). The expert of ETRTO reported on developing a harmonized high speed test based on the two such tests listed in UN GTR No. 16, namely the one based on UN Regulation No. 30 and the other one based on the American Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 139 (GRB-68-24).

33. In connection with the activities of IWG Tyre GTR, the expert from United States of America presented the outcome of the North American all-season tyre pre-meeting (GRB-68-17). The expert of ETRTO briefly introduced proposals for amendments to UN GTR No. 16 which would be presented in detail at the next session of GRB (GRB-68-18). The expert of ETRTO reported on developing a harmonized high speed test based on the two such tests listed in UN GTR No. 16, namely the one based on UN Regulation No. 30 and the other one based on the American Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 139 (GRB-68-24).

27. The Chair of the IWG introduced GRRF-86-22 with a memorandum on a “global marking for tyres”. He invited the Contracting Parties to the 1998 Agreement to review this memorandum and assess, whether the approach for tyre global marking in UN GTR No. 16 could be supported and whether it would be feasible to recognize a global tyre marking as an alternative to the existing national/regional tyre marking. The Chair invited GRRF delegates to respond to the memorandum.

34. On behalf of IWG Tyre GTR, the expert from the Russian Federation introduced a concept “Global Tyre” and a relevant marking to open a dialogue among the Contracting Parties to the 1998 Agreement to assess the feasibility of the proposed approach (GRRF-86-22).

35. The expert from Germany presented a status report of the group of interested experts from Finland, France, Germany, Japan and Russian Federation, BIPAVER and ETRTO on snow tyre provisions (GRB-68-23).

36. GRB noted that informal document GRB-68-01 on the performance of used tyres, that had been announced in the provisional agenda, would be submitted to the next session.