On the first of November 2012, European ECO-LABELLING regulations will come into force, requiring compulsory labelling of all tyres manufactured after 1 July 2012 and sold in European Union member states, Switzerland and other countries that have voluntarily adopted such regulations. Starting from this date, all class Cl, C2 and C3 tyres, i.e. tyres on cars, vans and trucks, must be fitted with a label providing information on three fundamental parameters that objectively determine some specific indications of tyre performance:
This initiative is aimed at increasing tyre safety and environmental and cost efficiency, allowing tyre fitters and customers to make more informed decisions based on additional information provided together with the product.
Depending on the tire’s rolling resistance, its fuel efficiency will range from class A (denoting the best fuel economy) all the way through to class G (delivering the worst fuel economy). Between classes, fuel consumption increases by approximately 0.1 liter for every 100 km driven.
Critical for driving safety is a secure grip in wet conditions. The wet grip rating indicates how well the tire will perform in wet conditions, with performance graded between class A and class G (although D and G are not currently in use). In general, the EU label assumes a speed of 80 km/h. Braking at this speed, a class A tire will come to a stop in wet conditions after 28 meters. By comparison, a class F tire requires 46.5 meters to come to a stop, giving a difference of more than 18 meters. From a safety point of view, it makes sense to opt for a higher-class tire.
Noise level is the external rolling noise generated by the tire, measured in decibels. The number of filled sound waves on the label equates to the noise level of the tires. A single sound wave means that the tire has the lowest noise level, between 67 and 71 dB. The highest level is represented by three sound waves, which is between 72 and 76 dB
