When it comes to purchasing tyres for your vehicle, it’s likely you’ll find that there are lots of different brands and models to choose from. To help drivers distinguish between different tyre types, all models manufactured after 1st May 2021 carry a new EU tyre label.
The EU tyre labelling system compares three key areas of tyre performance - fuel efficiency, wet grip and exterior noise. Your vehicle and driving style will determine which of these areas is most important to you.
Rolling Resistance
This rating establishes how economical the tyres are in terms of fuel consumption and it takes the rolling resistance of the tyre into consideration. From this, the tyre fuel efficiency rating is calculated. Rolling resistance is the force acting against the tyre’s direction of travel. Tyres with a lower rolling resistance use less energy, which means they also use less fuel. The higher the rating, the more you can save at the pump, or in the case of electric vehicles, the further you can travel on one charge. Other external factors also affect fuel consumption, such as personal driving style and vehicle weight.
Wet Grip
Tyre wet grip rating refers to how quickly the tyre can stop in wet conditions. Tyres with good wet grip have shorter stopping distances on wet roads. The wet grip rating is determined by how far a car travels after braking at 50mph in the wet. Although there are other factors such as directional control that can impact the performance of the tyres in wet weather, performance on the test outlined above was determined by the EU as the most similar to European road conditions. With the unpredictability of the British weather, this rating is important to ensure that your vehicle can come to a safe stop.
Exterior Noise
Tyre noise rating is another element of the EU tyre label. The noise levels of the tyres are measured in decibels (dB) and the tyre is given a rating from A-C (previously 1-3 soundwaves), with the noisiest tyres being allocated a C rating (previously 3 soundwaves) and the quietest tyres given an A (previously 1 soundwave). A C rating is the current upper limit of acceptable exterior noise. The EU tyre label only refers to the external tyre noise and not the interior cabin noise.
Additional Attributes
As well as the three key areas outlined above there are a number of additional attributes displayed on the new EU tyre label. The new label covers additional tyre details such as the suppliers name and tyre size at the top, providing easier identification of specific models. A QR code is also included at the top of the label, which is unique for each tyre model and when scanned will display a product information sheet from the EU product database (EPREL).
The 2021 labels will also display additional icons to indicate if a tyre meets specific conditions and has passed the rigorous testing to be suitable for operation in difficult weather conditions. These are marked by the 3PMSF (Three Peak Mountain Snow Flake) and/or for grip in icy conditions. The icons 3PMSF and Ice Grip icons can be seen below:
Talk To The Tyre Pros
“By having an understanding of EU tyre labelling, you shouldn’t struggle to find the right tyres for your vehicle and driving style. Before buying your tyres, we recommend checking the EU tyre ratings and making sure that the tyre performs well in the categories that are important to you. If you need any further help or advice, get in touch with our team of experts today."