Choosing the right tyre for your vehicle is not always easy. Many factors need to be considered before making a purchase. In today’s economic and environmental context, it is even more important to be well informed in order to select a tyre that offers durability, safety, and fuel efficiency. This is the purpose of the new European tyre labelling system.
European Tyre Labelling: Description and Rating Classes
European Tyre Labelling: Overview
These performance ratings are provided by manufacturers in accordance with tests defined at the European level.
Strengthening European Tyre Labelling
Since 1 May 2021, European tyre labelling has been reinforced. These changes were mainly driven by the European Union’s climate and energy policies, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
How to Read This New Label
Standard Information
This section provides details on the supplier’s trade name or brand, the tyre reference, its size, and the category (C1, C2, or C3).
Rating Levels
One of the major changes concerns the ratings for rolling resistance and wet grip, which are now graded from A (most efficient) to E (least efficient).
Snow grip (3PMSF – 3 Peak Mountain Snowflake) and/or ice grip are shown using pictograms, which may appear next to the “External Rolling Noise” symbol when the tyre is eligible.
Energy Efficiency
On average,
1 in 5 litres of fuel is consumed by the tyres.
With every wheel rotation, the tyre deforms to follow the road surface. During this deformation, the tyre heats up and energy is dissipated. By reducing this heating, fuel consumption—and therefore greenhouse gas emissions—can be lowered. This tyre-related force that resists the vehicle’s movement is called “rolling resistance.
£148⁽¹⁾
These represent the fuel savings achieved with a vehicle fitted with tyres rated A compared to a vehicle fitted with tyres rated E.
The fuel efficiency rating scale has been revised by removing the former D class (previously left blank).
As a result, a tyre previously rated E is now rated D for this criterion.
Wet Grip
1 MILLISECOND
is the time a tyre has to brake on a wet surface.
The tyre is the only point of contact between the vehicle and the road: at 80 km/h, it has less than 1 millisecond to guide the vehicle, accelerate, or brake. The tyre is one of the vehicle’s key safety components. Its role is to maintain grip on the road, regardless of its condition (damaged or well-paved), configuration (straight or curved), or weather (dry or wet).
9 m
This is the average difference in braking distance at 80 km/h between a vehicle equipped with tyres rated A and a vehicle equipped with tyres rated D².
The wet grip rating scale has been revised by removing the former empty class D. Thus, a tyre previously rated E is now rated D for this criterion.
External rolling noise
Measured in decibels (dB)
The three sound waves are now replaced by letters: A, B, or C (3 waves = C).
Traffic noise is a source of disturbance. For a vehicle traveling at a constant speed of 80 km/h, the noise generated by the tyre rolling on the road is generally higher than that of the engine. This rolling noise depends on both the type of tyre and the road surface.
x2
A tyre rated A is twice as quiet as a tyre rated B³.
New pictograms
The new European tyre labeling will also include:
A QR code
Located in the top-right corner of the label.
Scan this code to download more information about the tyre. This code is linked to a European database (EPREL) providing all information related to the tyre labeling, as well as the product information sheet.
3 Peaks Mountain Snow Flakes
Tyres marked "3PMSF" are the only ones to guarantee real winter performance, as they are specifically designed for use on snow and meet all objective testing requirements (4).
30 m(5)
Braking distance on ice
1,4 m(6)
“Ice Grip” tyres are specifically designed for ice-covered or compact snow surfaces and should only be used under extreme winter conditions (e.g., very low temperatures). Using these tyres in milder conditions (e.g., rain or mild temperatures) could impair performance, particularly in terms of wet grip, handling, and wear.