HiQ Guide to Tyre Labelling

New EU Tyre Labelling will be Compulsory by 2012. But What Will it Mean for You?

To some, the world of tyres is a complicated and confusing one. But with the new EU tyre labelling system, you'll enjoy a standardised view of fuel efficiency, wet grip performance and external rolling noise. By 2012, this will be compulsory across the industry for all new tyres in Europe. We welcome this change as it gives you, the consumer, the power to make a more informed decision about your tyres. The labels will be great at helping you choose the right tyre for you. And with the additional advice of your local tyre experts at HiQ, you'll end up with a tyre that fits your needs perfectly.

The basics

Generally speaking the new Tyre Label will apply to:

  • Car and SUV tyres
  • Van tyres
  • Truck tyres.

The Tyre Label will NOT apply to:

  • Non road-legal tyres, for example racing tyres
  • Re-tread tyres
  • Spare tyres
  • Vintage car tyres.

Who's Responsible for what?

The tyre manufacturer:
  • Every tyre must display the EU Tyre Label in the form of a sticker
  • They must also provide you with the Tyre Label values in lots of different communication formats.
Tyre retailers (that's us):
  • We must provide you with the Tyre Label values on or with the tyre invoice
  • The Tyre Label itself must be clearly visible to you, either by the tyre or actively shown to you.
Car manufacturer:
  • If you buy a new car, the Tyre Label values must be made available at the point initial purchase of the car, but only when the customer has the choice of more than one tyre.
EU-commission:
  • They will be responsible for detailed information about contents and design of the label
  • Each EU member state is to organise monitoring and impose penalties when the Tyre Labelling system has not been enforced.

Let's Introduce You to the Label Itself:

Clear and informative, they resemble existing energy efficiency labels with A being the highest performing and G currently the lowest. What's more, all tyres will carry the same label to make comparing different models quick and easy.

Reading the label. What does it all mean?

Fuel efficiency

Fuel efficiency is important to help you reduce both CO2 emissions and the cost of driving. Essentially the higher up the scale the tyre is, the less fuel your car will need to drive it forward, saving you money. And here's the little science bit for you: the difference between each category means a reduction or increase in fuel consumption of between 0.42 and 0.56 mpg for a 36 mpg car.

Wet grip

The grip your tyres have in the wet is a critical safety feature and relates to the tyre's ability to stop a vehicle quickly on wet roads. It's displayed in terms of stopping distance (how far the car travels before it's at a complete stop). The difference in each category shown means a stopping distance of between one and two car lengths (between 3 and 6 metres) when braking from 50mph.

The difference between categories A and F is more than 18 metres stopping distance. A very long way when you really need to stop.

Noise

Quite simply, this is the external noise made by the tyre and is measured in decibels. The more black bars shown on the label, the louder the tyres

What Else do You Need to Think About when Choosing the Right Tyre for You (We'll Help)

From 2012 you'll be better informed on fuel efficiency, wet grip performance and rolling noise for practically every tyre you want to buy. But as tyre experts we know that's not the whole story and we're here to advise you on the other important considerations:

  • Does the tyre have a good resistance to aquaplaning?
  • How stable is the tyre in varies conditions, off-road for example?
  • What's the handling and steering precision on wet and dry roads?
  • Durability: how long will it last?
  • What's the braking performance like on dry roads?
  • What are its capabilities in winter conditions?

Look beyond the tyre label