A deal has been struck by MEPs and European Union (EU) ministers imposing mandatory tyre labelling across the EU, promoting fuel-efficient, wet gripping and low noise tyres.
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It will force the public classification and labelling of tyres from a top-ranking green ‘A’ class to the worst red ‘G’ class. The agreement follows the passing of complementary EU legislation this June on new technical standards for tyres, notably covering wet grip, noise and rolling resistance.
The labelling deal, (which needs to be formally accepted by the European Parliament and the EU Council of Ministers), was welcomed by Belgian Christian Democrat MEP Ivo Belet, who had helped pilot negotiations with ministers.
“The new labelling system is a straightforward measure with great advantages for the environment and the consumers,” he claimed, arguing costs to manufacturers should be low.
The colour-coding system mirrors the European energy efficiency label [mandatory for domestic appliances such as washing machines and refrigerators] with each category indicating how a tyre performs for noise, wet grip and promoting fuel efficiency.
However, there have also been attempts to dovetail the system to suit a tyre purchasing market where consumers rarely look at tyres before buying, weakening the effectiveness of labels. As a result, from 1 November, 2012, suppliers of tyres for passenger cars, light and heavy duty vehicles (C1, C2 and C3 in the EU’s vehicle classification) must inform consumers about fuel efficiency, wet grip and noise classes in any technical promotional material, including websites. Re-treaded tyres, off-road professional tyres and racing tyres would be exempt from this.
Meanwhile, under the agreed law, all C1 and C2 tyres produced after 1 July, 2012, must either have a sticker affixed or be accompanied by the label when delivered to a shop or garage.
A parliament communiqué stressed: “Tyres are not always on display in the shops, so…retailers [must] show the label to the buyer before the sale….”
Keith Nuthall
