From the last quarter of the year, vehicle tyres in the UAE will have smart chips installed in them to ensure tyre safety and prevent motorists and dealers from tampering with tyres.

The Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (Esma) took a decision in this regard to reducing road accidents caused by damaged or old tyres.

The smart chip installed in the tyres will carry an identification card, which can be read through scanners or through smartphones. The tyre dealers and suppliers will be given 90 days grace period before making the rule mandatory.

The authority revealed that there will be modifications to the technical specifications and regulations for tyres, to go in line with the installation of the chip.

Abdulla Abdul Qader Al Maeeni, general manager of Esma, said that the move will also prevent sale of fake or counterfeit tyres.

“Nobody will be able to manipulate or make any changes in the key data recorded in the chips. This will help achieve the highest level of safety in tyres available in the UAE markets,” Al Maeeni said.

“The chip and the details of the tyres encrypted in it will be linked to a central database, that will have all the necessary information about the import of tyres at the customs outlets and marketing and distribution to wholesalers and retailers. Each tyre carries a specific serial number and manipulating that will be impossible”.

Al Maeeni said that the advanced technology will protect consumers from the risk of buying non-conforming tyres from the market. “The chips will carry information including the date of manufacture and the life span of the tyres, which would be readable through the devices of inspectors, and consumers can read it through smartphones.

“The ability to read the tyre data before buying will be an advantage for customers, he said, adding that this would be the second-generation tyre verification chips. Consumers will be able to easily check the tyres before buying and will be able to see if tyres are in line with the UAE standards or not.”

Al Maeeni said that a series of amendments will be made regarding the technical specifications for tyres, which include the provision of more stringent safety requirements and the addition of tyre transportation requirements. The transportation of tyres from factories to distributors and storage depots as well as the way to arrange tyres in the vehicles transporting it will be regulated by the new rules.

He said that all should abide by the mandatory requirements and specifications, and all tyres should be registered with the Gulf Standardisation Authority. The importers need to submit a test report for the product from an accredited laboratory, he concluded.

What are the smart chips for?

Each chip carries an identification card that can be read through scanners and smartphones.

It will carry information including the date of manufacture and the life span of the tyres.

Consumers will be able to easily check the tyres before buying and will be able to see if tyres are in line with the UAE standards or not.