Since November 1st, 2012 tyre manufacturers must specify fuel efficiency, wet grip and noise classification of every single tyre sold in in EU through the use of labels on each tyre, but do you know what these labels are and what you should be looking out for?
Well there are 3 labels in total, so they are easy remember:
Fuel Efficiency: This is a measure of the tyre’s rolling resistance, which has a direct impact on your vehicle’s fuel efficiency. Rated from A (highest rating) to G (lowest rating):
A set of tyres of the green class "A" compared to a "G"
class can reduce fuel consumption by approx 7.5% off a passenger car and even more for trucks
Wet Grip: This is a measure of the tyre’s braking ability on wet roads. Wet grip is rated from A (highest rating) to G (lowest rating). In an emergency situation, a few metres can make a big difference. For a passenger car applying full brakes at 80kph, a set of A-rated tyres will brake up to 18 metres shorter than a set of G-rated tyres.
Noise: A measure of the external noise generated by the tyre, in decibels. The black sound waves indicate the noise class of the tyre, from 1 (quiet) to 3 (loud).
If, like us, you didn't know about these labels then it's even more important to know that if you're purchasing a new tyre and you can’t find the label on a tyre you should ask your tyre centre about it, as they are obliged to provide this information.
Words by
John Smyth, MicksGarage Marketing Guru!
