European Parliament to debate tyre labelling rules

ERJ staff report (DS)

Strasbourg, France -- The European Parliament is set to debate the tyre labelling rules during the plenary session in Strasbourg today.

Like the European energy label, the tyre label will use fuel-efficiency classes ranging from best-performance (green “A” class) to worst (red “G” class). It will also show the tyre's wet grip and noise performance.

Suppliers must show fuel efficiency, wet grip and external rolling noise classes in any technical promotional literature for C1, C2 and C3 tyres (fitted to passenger cars, light and heavy duty vehicles), says the report drafted by Ivo Belet (EPP-ED, BE). Distributors must also include these values in their bills, says the amended draft legislation.

The label will also have to be attached, e.g. as a sticker, to C1 and C2 tyres, says the committee. Tyre manufacturers must mould into each sidewall the rolling resistance, wet grip and noise emission values as measured in the type approval test, says another amendment proposed by the committee.

To promote low-noise tyres, the committee inserted a provision in the text for a new "low noise mark", showing a tyre with earmuffs if the noise level is below 68 decibels (C1), 69 decibels (C2 tyres) or 70 decibels (C3 tyres).

Industry Committee MEPs also want the Commission to create by September 2010 an "EU tyre labelling website" as a "central online source of explanatory information for each component of the label".

Suppliers will have to provide a "fuel savings calculator" on their websites, says the Industry Committee, adding that this tool should allow consumers to assess the "potential average savings of fuel, CO2 and costs, for C1, C2 and C3 tyres".

This is an external link and should open in a new window. If the window does not appear, please check your pop-up blocking software. ERJ is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Briefing page from European Parliament