Industry Insights: Tire Recalls Are Present

Recently, the State Council promulgated the Regulations on the Administration of Recall of Defective Automobile Products (Consultation Draft). In contrast to the current regulations, the new regulations not only increase mandatory recalls and increase penalties, but also explicitly include tires in the scope of recalls. Article 26 stipulates that: “If a defect occurs in the tires of the vehicle-mounted equipment at the time of leaving the automobile, the manufacturer of the automobile product shall be responsible for the recall; if the tire of the unequipped vehicle is defective, the manufacturer of the tire is responsible for the recall.” It can be said that Tyre rights have now dawned.

For a long time, there have been many cases where there are nowhere to reason about tire problems. Some of them even crashed due to flat tires. However, it is often difficult to find the person directly responsible for the responsibility. This is because tires are worn-out parts. When tire bulging, surface cracking, and other problems are discovered, neither the automobile manufacturer nor the tire supplier is willing to take responsibility. One obvious difference is that American market tires are often recalled. Is it true that the tires on our market are quality products? This is obviously because there is no domestic recall laws and mandatory inspection standards and third-party inspection agencies, so they gave some tire companies the opportunity to justify themselves.

It is understood that the tire quality standards currently enforced by China are still the standards issued in 1997. There have been no changes in the tires over the years, and they have lagged far behind the current speed of development of automobiles and roads. This is totally different from the level of foreign countries for 10 years. In the United States and Europe, for example, the test standards for tires have been raised in 2007, the test speed has been increased from 137 kilometers per hour to 160 kilometers, and the durability test mileage has also been increased from the original 3,000 kilometers to 4080 kilometers. It also requires testing for detachment, aging, and air permeability. However, merely complying with China's existing tire laws and regulations does not guarantee that the produced tires will meet the current safety conditions. At the same time, accidents caused by the use of products are indeed difficult to monitor with laws and regulations, because regulations and certifications are only the minimum standards, and others rely on the conscious of the company.

The introduction of the draft recall of tires is not only a good thing for consumers, but also a good thing for tire companies and even vehicle manufacturers. The recall of auto parts is a very common thing in the world. The recall will not easily damage the reputation of the manufacturers. If it is done well, it will get the understanding and recognition of the consumers and improve the sense of responsibility of the company. After China has become the world's largest automotive market, on the road to pursue a strong automobile industry, whether it is an auto parts company or an entire vehicle company, establishing an honest and reliable brand image is the real king.

Of course, to truly safeguard the interests of consumers, it is still not enough to introduce a recall law. It is also necessary to establish authoritative and impartial third-party testing agencies throughout the country to accurately determine who is responsible for tire problems. In addition, it is necessary to accurately define the timing of the problem tires and whether they are used properly. In any case, the introduction of new regulations is a spur and supervision of tires and vehicle companies. For consumers, it is more of a safety belt to ensure traffic safety.