Dec 2011: Updated Tyre Labelling Regulations - 1235/2011 and 228/2011 Published

The European Commission regulations on tyre labelling are to come into force from November 2012. Right now, less than a year away from the deadline, the European Commission has published two updated regulations that will provide further guidance to the tyre industry in terms of how to carry out the tyre labelling and to make sure that their products are complaint with the claims made on the labels.

The New Tyre Labelling Regulations

The two new labelling regulations are the 228/2011 and the 1235/2011.

The former provides details about the method to be used to determine the wet grip factor of tyres incorporated in the passenger vehicles.

The 1235/2011 regulation, on the other hand, offers guidelines for grading the wet grip factor of the light and heavy commercial vehicle tyres. It also provides details on the methods to measure rolling resistance, incorporating laboratory alignment and associated verification procedures.

The Updated Regulations are Welcome

The regulation updates have been very positively received by the tyre industry. These updates are essential so that manufacturers are able to incorporate the desired specifications in their products to make them complaint with the EC labelling regulations within the stipulated time frame.

Considering that there is less than one year for the regulations to get enforced, the updates have arrived in the nick of time and only just. Even now, for the manufacturers, it will be mad dash to get things in place on time, if they are not well prepared. The clock is moving tick tock…..

The European Commission Tyre Labelling Regulations

The European Commission regulation 1222/2009, pertains to tyre labelling requirements.

The regulation states that all tyres for passenger and light commercial vehicles sold in the European Union after November 2012, should clearly display on its label such information as fuel efficiency, wet grip and amount of external noise produced. The aim of the regulation is to produce tyres that are fuel efficient, environment friendly, safe on roads and which do not contribute to noise pollution. The regulation also states that all tyres manufactured in the European Union after June 2012 need to adhere to these guidelines.

While the regulations become legally enforceable after November 2012, manufacturers who have done their homework well and planned in advance can use new labelling for their tyres for sale in the European market from May 2012.

The European Commission prohibits the use of the labelling regulations before May 2012.

The Implications Of the Tyre Labelling Regulations

The ETRMA that is coordinating with the European Commission on the labelling regulations stated that the information as required for effective tyre labelling should be a part of every medium through which the tyres are sold.

This could include website pages, price lists, marketing collaterals like brochures and newsletters.

The Tyres That Can be Labeled

At the moment, the European Commission labelling regulations are applicable only to new light and commercial vehicle tyres. Retreaded tyres, tyres on sports and vintage cars are exempted from the labelling regulations for now.