June 2012: EU tyre regulations and what it means for fuel efficient tyres

Everyone is looking for ways to save money and make their pennies stretch that bit further.

Choosing fuel efficient tyres help save you money. New EU tyre labelling regulations coming into force have recognised the importance of choosing tyres which are fuel efficient and in fact the introduction of new EU labels which will appear on all tyres by law will actively promote fuel efficient tyres.

How? Well the new labels will give a standardised rating for fuel efficiency which means motorists will be able to see exactly how fuel efficient the tyre is before they buy. It will be mandatory for all tyres being sold in the UK –and in fact entire EU – to display these labels.

The labels will look a bit like those which appear on modern electrical appliances such as fridge/freezers or dishwashers giving an energy rating. Similarly, the labels will provide a simple grading system of A – G. Tyres which are given the A rating are the most fuel efficient, and those with the G rating the least efficient and so will use more fuel.

On average, motorists could save an estimated 7.5% of fuel a year if they choose tyres with an ‘A’ rating over tyres with a ‘G’ rating. The saving differs depending on how much mileage you might do, but based on driving 10,000 miles per year at a cost of £1.40 a litre, savings mount up to well over £100.

But how can a tyre relate to fuel consumption? Well it may surprise you but almost 20% of a vehicle’s fuel consumption is influenced by its tyres and their ‘rolling resistance’.

The rolling resistance is basically the resistance force as the tyre hits the road and it takes a takes a certain amount of energy to overcome the resistance for the tyre to continue moving. Therefore the higher the rolling resistance the more energy – i.e. fuel – is used.

That’s why it’s important to look for low roll resistance tyres, to minimise levels of rolling resistance and thereby minimise fuel consumed. So when you’re looking to buy tyres, check the label for fuel efficiency – remember the higher the rating, such as A, B or C, then the better the fuel efficiency.

Read the full tyre labelling article here or search for low rolling resistance tyres online now. Any queries? Ask our online operators a question and get an instant response by clicking here.