What Will Happen to the EU Tyre Label?

Under European legislation introduced in 2012, all new tyres must carry a label grading their fuel efficiency, wet grip and noise emission levels. This label helps motorists to make a more informed choice when purchasing new tyres as the easy A-G rating shows exactly where your tyre stands in relation to other tyres.

As Britain prepare to leave the European Union, some European laws will no longer be in force – and this could include the necessity to grade new tyres using the EU Tyre Label.

 

Why Do We Need the EU Tyre Label?

The EU Tyre Label has made it easier for consumers and vehicle manufacturers to select the best tyres to suit their needs and it ensures that tyre manufacturers make tyres of a certain minimum standard. If tyre manufacturers do not comply with the EU Tyre Label they face strict penalties ensuring that safety and environmental standards meet those set out by the European Union.

 

How Do Non-EU Countries Grade Tyres?

Many non-EU countries also have strict laws in place when it comes to the standards of tyres sold, including Brazil who use a system almost identical to that of the EU Tyre Label. Other countries, however, do not have any legislation in place to govern the safety and quality of tyres sold.

Some alternative methods of tyre labelling include:

In Japan, tyres are given ratings for rolling resistance and wet grip and a score is displayed using grades AAA – D, similarly to the European Tyre Label.

South Korea also use a similar tyre labelling system to Japan, taking fuel efficiency and wet grip in to account. These criteria are labelled numerically with ‘1’ being the best and ‘5’ being worst.

 

Will Brexit Affect Tyre Labelling?

It is unlikely that Britain leaving the European Union will cause the EU Tyre Label to be discarded in the UK. The EU Tyre Label helps to promote tyre manufacturers to actively work to lower emissions, which is a global priority, and so it seems unlikely that this would be repealed.

If the EU Tyre Label was to be discarded in the UK following Brexit, it is likely that a labelling process similar to that found in Japan or South Korea would instead be adopted.