Everything you need to know about tyre labels

As with other types of products, there have been significant developments in the tyre industry in recent years in terms of labelling and certification, with a view to ensuring that consumers have clearer information and to get results from an environmental and energy saving perspective. Find out how to read tyre labels and their values.

New tyre labels: what information they provide

For several years, tyres have had a European label that is consistent across all countries in the European Union and contains various technical details about the product. When you know how to read the label, you can have detailed information about various tyre models and be able to choose the right product for your vehicle. Specifically, the tyre EU label provides information on fuel consumption, noise and wet grip.

EU tyre labels: how to read them

If you are wondering how to read European tyre labels, you will find some very useful information below. One of the most important aspects on the label is the fuel consumption: not everyone knows that tyres are responsible for up to 20% of fuel consumption, making them an important choice to save petrol and reduce harmful emissions.

The easier the tyres roll, the less fuel will be consumed, so less energy will be required in terms of the clutch and heating. As with electrical home appliances, tyre labels also have an efficiency scale from A to G, differentiated by colour: A is green and is the highest classification with the biggest fuel savings; G is red and is the lowest category. To highlight the importance of this, bear in mind that a class A tyre can save up to 7.5% on consumption than a class G tyre.

Tyres and the European label: wet grip and noise

Another very important element in terms of safety is wet grip, which measures how quickly tyres will stop when braking on a wet surface. The classifications range from A to F and there is a braking distance of around 20 metres between the two extremes.

The noise index measures how much noise the tyres make when rolling. There are three categories defined by black waves (1 black wave = quiet; 2 black waves = moderate; 3 black waves: noisy), which allows you to choose tyres that are not only the best quality but also more environmentally friendly in terms of noise pollution.

How to choose tyres based on European labels

When you buy new tyres, it is important to carefully assess these three characteristics because with just a small price difference you can choose safer tyres that perform better and have less of an impact on the environment.

It is a different matter with a long-term rental car. When replacement tyres are included in the services in the contract, there will always be new, high-performance tyres available, which will be chosen based on the best performance and safety criteria. The service also includes replacing tyres in winter to ensure the utmost safety and optimal driving in all weather conditions.