Michelin warns on 'fake' tyres

Safety concerns over tens of thousands of counterfeit truck tyres, largely from Asia, have spurred Michelin, the world's largest tyre maker, to write to the European Commission, the Financial Times reported last week.

Michelin has asked External Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson and Industry Commissioner Gunter Verheugen to take action on the imports of these tyres, which it warned could be a threat to road safety.

The French group has also sent letters to some 5,000 tyre distributors throughout Europe (local agent Kind's of Lija has yet to receive its letter) warning that it will take legal action if it finds counterfeit tyres being sold under the Michelin brand.

Michelin estimates that between 50,000 and 70,000 counterfeit tyres have been sold in Europe in the past 18 months in a market estimated at 20 million a year. It is asking the EU authorities to develop an action plan to stop these fake tyre imports, which are being sold for half the normal retail price of €400-E500.

These tyres are used on trucks carrying loads of up to 40 tonnes or more, with a potential lifespan of 10 years or 500,000 km.

Michelin has already sued a distributor in the US and another in China, which it found selling counterfeit tyres. Counterfeiters are faking Michelin's patented tyre tread, the serial numbers identifying categories of tyres and the documentation that would normally guarantee authenticity.

The inventor of the radial tyre, Michelin invests four per cent of its annual turnover on research and development.