Tyre Labelling

From 1st November 2012, all new tyres will carry a label which shows the tyre’s performance. The labels are in a similar format to the familiar EU Energy Efficiency label which you can find on items such as washing machines. These labels will help consumers make more informed choices when buying tyres and show the tyre’s performance in the following 3 areas:

Fuel Efficiency:

This is related to the rolling resistance. By reducing rolling resistance of the tyre, the car consumes less petrol. 7.5% loss of fuel economy between the best and worst classes for a full set of tyres fitted to an average car. (More for trucks)

Wet Grip:

One of the most important safety characteristics of a tyre. Tyres with very good grip have a shorter braking distance when it rains. 30% shorter braking distance between best and worst classes for a full set of tyres fitted to an average car.

External Rolling Noise:

This is expressed in waves ; 3 black bars = above future EU limit, 2 black bars = meets future EU limit, 1 black bar = at least 3 dB below the future EU limit. The aim is to reduce traffic-related noise for communities.

The label is NOT a quality label covering all aspects related to the overall performance of a tyre. In that respect it is similar to the energy efficiency label for washing machines, which indicates how much electricity a washing machine typically uses per year, but does not say anything about specific extra functions a washing machine might have.
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