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Research and analysis

Measurement of emissions from brake and tyre wear

A research report on developing prototypes to measure brake and tyre wear emissions from road vehicles in real driving conditions.

Updates to this page

From:
Department for Transport
Published:
30 May 2023
Last updated:
13 November 2025
Show all updates

  1. Phase 2 report added.

  2. First published.

Documents

Measurement of emissions from brake and tyre wear

PDF, 10.2 MB, 132 pages

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Measurement of emissions from brake and tyre wear phase 2

PDF, 20 MB, 238 pages

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Details

In February 2021, DfT began a research project to investigate ways in which we can measure and better understand the generation of non-exhaust emissions. This work was carried out in 2 phases.

Phase 1 

Released in May 2023, this focused on developing a prototype for brake and tyre wear particle measurement in real driving conditions.

Phase 2

Released in November 2025, this focused on taking the prototypes from phase 1 and testing them on vehicles both in the lab and on the road. A number of factors were explored to better understand their impacts on a non-exhaust emissions generation.

Study findings 

The study’s findings improve our understanding of tyre and brake wear emissions and how policy and legislation can be used to control them.

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