Brussels – The European tire labeling begins today. Consumers will be able to buy their new tires knowing how fuel efficient and noisy they are, and how much grip on wet roads they provide. A new and now compulsory EU label will grade tires from A to G for rolling resistance (fuel efficiency) and wet grip (safety), while the number of dBs on the label will display their rolling noise. This is coupled with the entry into force of another EU regulation setting new minimum requirements for the same performances, with the objective of moving towards safer and more sustainable road transport.
This is the first time that such a detailed label enters the automotive sector – and it is a game-changer for the whole tire supply chain, right down to the consumer. From the manufacturers’ point of view, this will have the effect of enhancing already fierce competition. Furthermore, the manufacturers will benefit from visible product differentiation resulting from increased transparency on the quality of three of the many characteristics of a tire. As a result, consumers will now be able to effectively compare tires on the basis of information on selected three performances that were so far little known. The effect of these two legislations combined is indeed testimony of “what a tire can do”.
It is in fact estimated that their correct enforcement could result in 5% fuel savings on the total EU fleet. This effectively means taking one million passenger cars off the EU’s roads every year and – for the consumer – significant savings in fuel on the lifetime of a set of four tires. Furthermore, choosing tires with the best wet grip would result in shortening the stopping distance of a vehicle as much as four car lengths.
Source: Rubber World online
