The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has launched a week-long operation targeting substandard tyres across the country.
During Tuesday’s crackdown in downtown Kampala, more than 500 substandard pneumatic tyres with an estimated value of Shs150 million were confiscated.
Denis Odur, the UNBS Surveillance Officer leading the operation, highlighted that this initiative was prompted by the growing public concern over subpar tyres flooding the market. Additionally, there has been an uptick in accidents attributed to tyre failures in recent times.
Odur remarked, “We have identified several defective tyres and observed poor storage practices that compromise their quality. The usage of such substandard tyres on vehicles can lead to accidents for drivers.”
Among the observed poor practices are improper packaging, transportation, and storage during importation and distribution. These practices contribute to the deterioration of tyre quality, posing risks to public safety and the environment.
To address this issue, UNBS has established standards to regulate the quality of tyres in the market. The bureau urges manufacturers, importers, distributors, transporters, wholesalers, and retailers of pneumatic tyres to ensure that their products meet these standards.
UNBS also cautioned traders against undesirable practices, such as retreading pneumatic tyres for passenger trucks, stacking tyres within one another during transport, re-grooving old and expired tyres for resale, storing tyres on the floor under direct light, and more.
Traders were advised to adhere to specific storage guidelines, including keeping tyres in covered areas to minimize exposure to light. If storage facilities cannot be darkened, stacks of tyres should be shielded with sturdy woven fabric to prevent light, dirt, or water intrusion.
Furthermore, UNBS provided stacking recommendations, limiting the number of tyres per stack based on type. All tyres within a stack should be rotated every 90 days to ensure even wear.
UNBS shared specifications for tyre traders in Uganda, including standards such as US EAS 357:2004 for trucks and buses, US EAS 358:2004 for passenger cars, US EAS 359:2004 for light trucks, and US EAS 360:2004 for agricultural implements.