By John Simpson 02 July 2012
Tyre manufacturers have begun including labels detailing fuel efficiency and noise levels of any new tyres sold within the EU.
Around 35 million tyres are sold in the UK each year and prior to the new EU regulation, price and brand were the only pieces of information available to some buyers.
SMMT Chief Executive Paul Everitt welcomed the labels’ introduction: "There are more than 150 million tyres currently on UK roads, so any information to help motorists understand crucial safety and performance characteristics is valuable, particularly given the safety improvements and fuel efficiency savings that can be gained from choosing the right tyre.
"Before this tyre label, customers only had price and brand to distinguish between more than 300 different types of tyres; now motorists have a set of comparable factors to make buying decisions easier."
Legal requirement
From November 1, all tyres sold in the UK and EU must bear these labels [seen right] as a legal requirement.
A tyre’s rolling resistance and wet grip will be categorised using a seven grade ranking scale from A to G, similar to the efficiency labels seen on appliances like fridges.
Tyre maker Continental consider the labels as a “real breakthrough” in providing motorists with standard data relating to performance, safety and environmental impact, but warned they only provide a basic overview.
"The EU label only shows three of more than 14 important tyre performance criteria,” said a Continental spokesperson.
“Tyre tests from magazines will continue to be the most comprehensive source of information for motorists because they provide complete and independent reports covering nearly all criteria for the most popular tyre sizes."
Franchised dealers and garages subscribed to the OFT-backed Motor Codes garage scheme have been briefed with the latest information to provide first-class advice to motorists on the new tyre labelling legislation.
Visit motorcodes.co.uk to find your nearest dealership or tyre stockist.
Categories: Fleet news , smmt
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