The new tyre labelling system comes into force today; the industry’s largest ever customer information programme, that will deliver crucial cost and safety information to the UK’s 44 million motorists.
The new labels explain the fuel efficiency, safety and external noise level of every tyre on sale in car dealership aftersales departments and fast fit operations across the country.
“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,” said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive. “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.”
BBC report: New European tyre labelling could save money and lives
From today, it is a legal requirement for tyre retailers to display the new label on all replacement tyres, but labels first started to appear in shops and dealerships in early July. Fuel efficiency (rolling resistance) and safety (wet grip) is categorised using a seven grade ranking scale, similar to the new car CO2 or fridge efficiency labels.
A top-ranked A-grade tyre could out-perform the lowest-ranked G-grade tyre by 30% for safety and 7.5% for fuel efficiency. This translates to a vehicle stopping three to four car lengths shorter from 50mph and a fuel cost saving of around £100 every year for the average motorist.
Franchised dealers and garages subscribed to the OFT-backed Motor Codes garage scheme are briefed with the latest information to provide first-class advice to motorists on the new tyre labelling legislation. Visit vehicle manufacturer websites or www.motorcodes.co.uk to find your nearest dealership or tyre stockist.
Watch the video below to find out more about the new tyre labelling system.
