Conti warns on enforcement of EU directive on tyre labelling

ERJ staff report (DS)

Hanover, Germany -- Continental AG said it welcomes the current initiative of the EU Commission to provide motorists with standardised information about tyre characteristics for the criteria of braking performance, rolling resistance and rolling noise. However, the company said it wants to ensure all tyre makers are subject to the proposed rules and that the rules are enforced.

"We would explicitly point out the problem areas to be expected during the implementation in the twenty-seven countries of the EU. In particular, this includes the question of sanction mechanisms which can be used to move all manufacturers - as well as importers of low-price Asian tyres - toward diligent implementation. However, the proposal to put the label directly on our products is also too short-sighted because most tyre buyers do not see their tyres until they are already mounted on the vehicle," according to the Executive Board vice chairman of Continental AG, Dr Alan Hippe, who heads the Rubber Group where he is responsible for the Passenger and Light Truck Tire division.

A study of the Fraunhofer Institute on the implementation of the Fuel Consumption Labeling for Cars in Germany in 2001 showed that self-certification measures are often abused due to a lack of inspection mechanisms and sanctions. More than 50 percent of the electric appliances checked in 320 German stores were incorrectly labeled or not labeled at all. "That simply must not happen with passenger tyres, considering how important they are for safety," stressed Dr. Hippe.

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Press release from Conti