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Pressure is mounting on the Government to take action over snow tyres which have been blamed for at least four deaths in road crashes.
The latest was Palmerston North woman Sandra Raemaki, who died of injuries received in a road accident near Opiki, 18km southwest of Palmerston North, when her vehicle collided with an oncoming vehicle on October 1 last year.
An inquest finding issued on Friday by Palmerston North Coroner Carla na Nagara said the accident was the result of Ms Raemaki losing control of her vehicle in wet conditions as a result of it being fitted with snow tyres.
Ms na Nagara's finding came with a recommendation for Land Transport New Zealand to "initiate legislative changes so that warrants of fitness are not issued to vehicles fitted with a combination of snow and standard/conventional tyres".
The Manawatu Standard reported today that Ms Raemaki's fiance, Don Graham, wants Transport Minister Annette King to ban the tyres coming in on used imports.
Mr Graham said the snow tyres appeared good because they had about 5mm of tread on them compared with the New Zealand minimum of 1.5mm. However, they were so worn they were considered illegal in Japan and Australia.
Snow tyres and conventional tyres were designed for different conditions and reacted differently during braking in wet conditions, he said.
Yet the snow tyre/conventional tyre combination was accepted for warrants of fitness in New Zealand.
"The coroner's finding was no surprise, but I am disappointed that no action has been taken by the land transport authority."
Mr Graham said Ms Raemaki's car was fitted with four Japanese snow tyres when she bought it in 2005 and it was granted a warrant of fitness. Later, two new standard tyres were fitted to the front wheels of her car, which again got a warrant.
"I want these snow tyres banned," he said.
"Nothing can be done for Sandy now. Her case is history, but how many more lives are going to be lost?"
The Motor Trade Association (MTA) has joined Mr Graham's call for a ban on the tyres.
MTA communications manager Andy Cuming said used snow tyres were being imported into New Zealand fitted to used cars, and also loose in containers.
"It is too easy for motorists to find their cars have ended up with a mix of different types, as tyres are progressively replaced."
Mr Cuming said that MTA's position on the matter was clearly set out in recommendations made to the Land Transport Safety Authority in August last year, and was unchanged.
"We await with interest Land Transport's own findings in this matter following the testing they themselves have undertaken."
Among the MTA recommendations are that used vehicles imported with snow tyres have these tyres replaced before a certificate of compliance was issued to enable the vehicles to operate on New Zealand roads, that a ban be imposed on the importation of second-hand snow tyres, and that vehicles operating with snow tyres fitted outside the cold season and away from colder regions of the country be refused a warrant of fitness.
In April last year Levin Coroner Phillip Comber said the question of snow tyres was "a matter which requires urgent consideration" after he issued his findings on the death of Tiaina Gatoloai, 49, on May 23, 2006.
And the father of two young women killed in a crash earlier in 2007, near Levin, urged action to ensure Japanese imports were fitted with New Zealand-made tyres.
Antony Simon told Radio New Zealand today that snow tyres were "dangerous" and should be removed from imports.
Mr Simon's daughters Isabelle, 15, and Lucy, 18, died in January when their Japanese import slid on a bridge and hit an oncoming truck.
- NZPA
