The new EU tire label provides important information about safety and environmental aspects of a tire. Similar to the energy label found on kitchen appliances, the EU tire label makes it easy to compare tires in terms of wet grip, fuel efficiency and noise. Explore the links below to find out more.
Where can I find the EU tire label?
From November 2012, all new tires will display an EU tire label sticker. If you can’t find the label on a tire you should ask your dealer, as he or she is obliged to provide this information. EU ratings are also displayed for each tire on our website.
1. Fuel Efficiency
Did you know that tires account for up to 20% of your vehicle’s fuel consumption? Choosing tires with a high fuel efficiency rating will give you more miles from your tank and fewer CO2 emissions.
What makes a tire fuel-efficient?
Simply put, fuel-efficient tires require less energy to roll. An easy-rolling tire has lower demands on fuel, since a smaller amount of energy is wasted on friction and heat. You may have heard of tires with ‘low rolling resistance’, which essentially means the same thing.
How is fuel efficiency rated?
Fuel efficiency is rated from A to G on a color-coded scale.
A (green) = highest fuel efficiency rating
G (red) = lowest fuel efficiency rating
Rating D is not used for passenger cars.
What the ratings mean
The difference between an A rating and a G rating could mean a reduction in fuel consumption of up to 7.5%. To put this in real terms, choosing A-rated tires instead of G-rated tires could save you more than 6 liters of fuel every 1000 kilometers.*
At an average petrol price of €1.50 per liter, that adds up to cost savings of more than €300 over the life of the tires.*
Don’t forget, you’ll also be reducing your environmental impact!
*Based on an average consumption of 8 liters/100km, a fuel price of 1.50 euros / liter, and an average tire mileage of 35,000 km
What else influences fuel efficiency?
For optimal fuel efficiency, make sure your tires are correctly inflated. Low tire pressure increases rolling resistance and impacts on wet grip performance. The weight of your vehicle and your personal driving style can also make a big difference. Energy-efficient driving, or “eco-driving” can significantly reduce your fuel consumption.
*Based on an average consumption of 8 liters/100km, a fuel price of 1.50 euros / liter, and an average tire mileage of 35,000 km
Label values shown are for illustrative purposes only. Values for a certain tire line/size may vary.
2. Wet Grip
Wet grip is an important factor to consider when choosing new tires. Tires with a high wet grip rating will stop shorter on wet roads when full brakes are applied.
What is wet grip?
‘Wet grip’ is the tire’s ability to adhere to the road in wet conditions. The EU rating focuses only on one aspect of wet grip – the wet braking performance of the tire.
How is wet grip rated?
Wet grip is rated from A to F:
A = highest rating
F = lowest rating
Ratings D and G are not used for passenger cars.
What the ratings mean
In an emergency situation, a few meters can make all the difference. For a passenger car applying full brakes from 80kph, a set of A-rated tires will brake up to 18 meters shorter than a set of F-rated tires. *
Note: You should always respect the recommended stopping distances when driving.
*When measured according to the test methods set out in Regulation EC 1222/2009. Braking distances may vary according to driving conditions and other influencing factors.
Label values shown are for illustrative purposes only. Values for a certain tire line/size may vary.
3. Noise
Tires contribute to the amount of pass-by noise a vehicle generates. Choosing a tire with a good noise rating will lower the impact of your driving on the surrounding environment.
What the EU noise rating measures
The EU rating measures the external noise emissions of the tire in decibels.
Noise class
Since many people are unfamiliar with decibel values, the noise class is also shown. This categorizes the tire in relation to forthcoming European tire noise limits.
1 black wave: Quiet (3dB or more below the future European limit)
2 black waves: Moderate (between the future European limit and 3dB below)
3 black waves: Noisy (above the future European limit)
What the ratings mean
Decibel levels are measured on a logarithmic scale. This means that an increase of just a few decibels represents a big difference in noise levels. In fact, a difference of 3dB doubles the amount of external noise the tire produces.
Think about the many thousands of cars on our roads each day. If we all chose tires with lower noise ratings, imagine how much quieter our towns and cities would be?
