EU Tyre Label

In November 2012, a standard label for vehicle tyres was introduced throughout Europe:

Based on three criteria, the EU Tyre Label provides information on the environmental and safety characteristics of a tyre with the aim of increasing road safety and reducing pollution.

Safety
Secure grip in wet conditions is crucial for safe driving.
Fuel efficiency
Reduced rolling resistance saves fuel and cuts CO2 emissions.
Noise
This is the external noise made by the tyre and is measured in decibels.

Safety

Secure grip in wet conditions is crucial for safe driving. Performance is graded into classes, A to G (although D and G are not currently used). The stopping distance between a class A tyre and a class F tyre can be as much as 18 metres.

Fuel efficiency

Reduced rolling resistance saves fuel and cuts CO2 emissions. Class A tyres deliver the best fuel efficiency, with each subsequent class through to G increasing fuel consumption by between 0.42 and 0.56 mpg for a car which does 36 mpg.

Noise

This is the external noise made by the tyre and is measured in decibels.
The more filled bars shown on the label, the louder the tyres.

Please consider:

Actual fuel savings and road safety depend heavily on the behaviour of the driver, and in particular the following:

eco-driving can significantly reduce fuel consumption
tyre pressure should be regularly checked to optimise wet grip and fuel efficiency performance
stopping distances should always be strictly respected

What else shoud be considered when choosing new tyres?

The EU Tyre label is designed to show information regarding 3 criteria. However, there are many other important performance factors to consider including:

Resistance to aquaplaning
Driving stability
Handling and steering precision
Durability
Braking performance
Capabilities in winter conditions

There are up to eleven relevant factors that standard tyre tests include in addition to the label criteria.

Automotive manufacturers require the very highest standard across all these performance factors before they approve tyres for their new vehicles.

Furthermore, widely published tyre tests also take these performance factors into account and therefore continue to be an excellent source of independent information regarding the total performance of a tyre.

Further information:

Tyre label theme on the official EU Commission website: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/efficiency/tyres/labelling_en.htm
wikipedia.org: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tire_label

Our Statement on the EU Tyre Label

Continental welcomes the introduction of the European Tyre Label and the improvement of tyre information for consumers at the point of sale.
By November 2012, all consumers will be informed about fuel efficiency, safety properties and noise levels of new tyres via the label.
Between categories, fuel consumption will increase or decrease by 0.42 to 0.56 mpg, whereas the braking distance required on a wet road at 50 mph will increase or decrease by up to 6 m.
Tyre tests conducted by car magazines will continue to be an important source of information for end consumers since they test up to 11 further safety-relevant product properties in addition to the three criteria shown on the label.
In winter, other tyre performance criteria become important that are not included on the label. Motorists should consult alternative published sources, such as tyre tests, retailer advice, manufacturer materials, etc., when purchasing winter tyres.
For further information please contact your tyres specialist or go to www.tyre-label.com

Matador. A brand of Continental.