Tyre label: key to choosing your next tyres

Learn to interpret this label (tyre label) and you will know exactly when a compound is worth its price.

If you don’t know which tyre to fit on your car (we’ll tell you now that cheap tyres end up costing more: comparison of cheap vs premium tyres), it is important that you understand the European tyre label, a marking that will help you know the quality of the tyre you are buying. This label measures three key parameters when defining the quality of a tyre: safety, fuel efficiency and noise.

How to read the tyre label

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=189&v=CpSQlfqDazQ

How good is a tyre? Look at the 3 parameters on the label

As we said before, the tyre information label measures three parameters: fuel efficiency, wet grip and the noise generated by the rubber. The combination of these three characteristics indicates the overall quality of the compound.

1. Fuel efficiency (logo in the upper left corner): grade A represents the highest fuel saving, while grade G indicates the opposite. It is estimated that a grade A tyre saves more than €300 over the life of the tyre.
2. Wet grip (icon in the upper left corner of the image): as in the previous case, grade A represents the maximum level of grip, while grade G corresponds to the rubber with the least grip. On wet asphalt, it is estimated that the difference between a grade A and a grade G tyre at 80 km/h is 18 metres in braking distance.
3. Noise level (icon at the bottom of the image): the external noise rating of a tyre is measured in decibels (dB) and is shown on the label with one, two or three waves; one being the lowest noise level and three the highest.

Wet grip

This block of the label measures the tyre’s grip when braking on wet surfaces. Tyre grip is one of the most important aspects of car safety. Between the tyres with the highest rating (grade A) and those with the lowest (grade G), there is a difference in braking distance of 18 metres; this data was obtained on wet pavement at a speed of 80 km/h. Although it is only an approximate rule, each grade lower on this scale adds between 3 and 4 metres to the wet braking distance.

These are the braking distances at 80 km/h offered by each tyre depending on its grip category:

Impact of the tyre on fuel consumption

This block of the label measures the rolling resistance of the tyres, a parameter that is closely linked to fuel consumption: the lower the resistance, the better the vehicle optimises the energy source used (fuel) and the lower the level of polluting emissions.

As in the previous cases, the energy efficiency of tyres is measured with letters, from A to G. A is the one with the lowest rolling resistance coefficient (less than or equal to 6.5) and G the highest (CRR greater than or equal to 12). In other words, tyres with grade A are the ones that make your vehicle use the least fuel, while tyres with grade G increase your car’s consumption the most.

If we translate these reference figures into more concrete data, we find that grade A tyres consume up to 0.5 litres/100 km less than those with the worst rating (grade G). These data translate into savings of around €300 in fuel over the useful life of the tyre, that is, about five full tanks of fuel every 20,000–30,000 kilometres, or in other words, the cost of a pair of tyres. In some cases, the fuel saving with efficient tyres can be even greater, as shown in the following image published by the RACE.

The European Union is imposing strict restrictions on polluting emissions, which led to the sale of grade G tyres being banned in 2014. The same will happen with grade F compounds from 1 November 2018.

Tyre external noise level

This third block indicates the external rolling noise, expressed in decibels (dB), generated by each tyre model. This parameter is located at the bottom of the label and is graphically represented by three lines or sound waves from a speaker, where 1 wave is the minimum noise (below 68 dB), 2 waves the average (between 68 dB and 71 dB) and 3 waves the maximum noise (above 71 dB). The last value, the three lines, could be banned in the future, as it generates up to 4 times more noise than permitted. In this section, it is important to understand that the increase in volume between one line and the next is not linear but logarithmic, which means that a 3 dB difference represents a 50% reduction in noise.

COMPARISON: the tyre brands with the best ratings

In the following chart published by the RACE, we find the tyre brands with the best ratings for energy efficiency.

Conclusion: what should you consider when deciding on one tyre or another?

Logically, the best tyre will be the one whose label offers grade A for energy efficiency, rolling resistance coefficient, and just one wave of external noise. But, is the label the only thing we should look at when buying a tyre? As you may have guessed, no.

Each tyre meets a different need. If for example you drive a sports car, tyre grip becomes more important than fuel efficiency, since the tyres will be better prepared for dynamic driving. In any case, the most sensible approach is always to follow this rule, since the level of grip is what will provide you with greater safety at the wheel.

Our advice: when choosing a tyre, first look for the compounds with the greatest grip. Among the resulting options, choose the one that offers the best balance between grip and fuel efficiency.

On another note, several studies show that one of the main causes of user dissatisfaction with tyres is wear that is too rapid. This is a vitally important parameter that is not specified on the label. Just as important as a tyre having good grip is that this grip is maintained over time. There are also other values to consider, such as dry braking or cornering grip. Before buying a tyre, it is highly advisable to seek advice on these matters, whether from workshops, tyre brands… or the specialist press.

In any case, it is worth keeping in mind the golden rule when it comes to tyres: the most important thing, whichever tyre you choose, is maintenance. The best tyre in the world becomes the worst if it does not have the correct pressure.