Scottish 'alliance' to review winter tyre use

Ministers from the Scottish Parliament are assembling an ‘alliance’ representing the tyre and insurance industries plus motoring organisations in order to focus on the role winter tyres can play in keeping Scotland moving during times of harsh weather, and one MSP hopes this focus will benefit the Michelin plant located in his constituency.

Members of this alliance are scheduled to meet with Scottish Transport Minister Keith Brown later in the month. Commenting on the upcoming winter tyre talks, Brown said “we are continually looking to improve our resilience response as we work together to keep Scotland open for business, helping goods get to market and enable the continued delivery of important frontline services.  The alliance on winter tyres is one piece of that work. By bringing this alliance together, I hope we can share experiences and best practice and examine new ways of ensuring every reasonable step is taken to allow individuals and businesses to make informed choices about all the options available to them to continue safe, reliable journeys in severe weather conditions, including the use of winter tyres.”

Topics to be broached by the alliance include those of market supply and demand for winter tyres and the promotion of information to enable individuals and businesses to make informed choices on the fitting of winter tyres. The alliance activities were supplemented by a similarly themed meeting held on February 1 between the British Tyre Manufacturers’ Association and some of its members, Scottish Government officials, the Freight Transport Association and the Road Haulage Association.

Michelin’s factory in Dundee produces winter tyres, and the support of Dundee West MSP Joe FitzPatrick comes as no surprise. “I welcome news of this initiative by the Transport Minister to discuss way to keep Scotland moving during severe weather in future winters,” he stated. “Dundee’s Michelin Plant make winter tyres and they could be in for a big boost if Transport Scotland and the Scottish Government can get agreement that winter tyres would make a difference in future cold winters.

“Michelin are one of the city’s biggest employers and it would be great if they were to be involved in this initiative to keep Scotland moving by greater use of winter tyres,” FitzPatrick added.