When you buy your next set of tyres, chances are you'll see a label like this.
Tyre companies are beginning the process of labelling every one of the 35 million tyres sold each year in UK with information regarding noise, safety and fuel efficiency.
Until now, price and brand have been the only ways to distinguish between different tyres when buying a new set of boots for your car; but yesterday (1st November) it became a legal requirement for tyre retailers to display these labels on new tyres.
The labels are similar to the energy-efficiency labels you see when buying an electrical appliance or a new car. The tyres are graded from A to G on fuel efficiency (rolling resistance) and safety (wet grip), and a decibel reading will also be given, telling you just how much noise the tyres will make.
An A-grade tyre is likely to outperform a G-grade tyre by 30% for safety and 7.5% for fuel efficiency. This might not sound much but it equates to a four-car-length difference when stopping from 50mph, and a saving of £100 a year on fuel.
