Following the European authorities' announcement of the latest tire labeling regulations, Continental AG has also given more freshly released details of the labeling legislation, breaking them down into a more digestible form.
As far as the wet braking category is concerned, vehicles with tires in Class A are set to stop in the shortest distance from 50 mph, whilst vehicles with tires from Class B will take 3-6 meters longer. This trend continues for the subsequent values and results in a braking difference of over 18 meters from a vehicle in Class A to Class F.
The rolling resistance part of the label also operates on a letter-based scale. For example, a tire from Class C will use one liter more fuel than a tire from Class B over a journey of 625 miles. Such values are intended to aid consumers in purchasing tires for their individual requirements. Another environmental factor, noise level, will also be highlighted on the label with a numerical value of decibels produced.
Speaking at a recent press conference in London, Continental representatives became to the first to share when they would voluntarily comply. The Hannover-based tire manufacturer plans to begin labeling its products in June next, almost as soon as the legislation permits. It is likely that other premium tire firms will follow suit.
As far as the practical side of labeling is concerned, Conti has opted to invest in new machinery that allows it to apply two neatly aligned labels on its tires when they come off the production line. Due to the fact that Continental wants to add its color scheme, marketing messages and consumer information (and because what is allowed on the EU label is tightly controlled by the legislation), this can only be done with two separate labels. Again, it is likely that other tire manufacturers will consider a similar approach.
Tire manufacturers will be obliged to provide a sticker on or with all tires, which retailers must display in a clearly visible position to the end user. The vehicle manufacturer must also provide label values to consumers in case a choice of different tires can be made on a new vehicle.
The regulation is intended to help consumers make better decisions when buying tires, but it still only covers three of the performance criteria that a tire needs. For a more complete picture of how their tires will perform out on the road, consumers can also refer to independent tire tests in leading U.K. magazines which also take into account criteria such as aquaplaning, wet handling and performance on dry roads.
Tire labeling will also provide commercial end users with tangible information on each commercial vehicle tire, making it easier to compare different brands. For example, in terms of rolling resistance, a tire graded Class C could use up to 10% more fuel than a tire graded Class A.
“This can have a huge impact on an operator’s annual fuel bill. Assuming the latest pump price of £1.36 per liter, Let’s consider a truck fitted with Class A tires that does 9.42 mpg average at 160,000 kilometers per year. If this same vehicle was fitted with Class C tires, the increase in fuel costs could be as much as £1,500. This will clearly demonstrate to potential buyers that inexpensive budget brand tires aren’t always the best solution to drive down costs,” said Tracey Hyem, marketing manager commercial tires at Continental UK.
Noise, which is particularly important to coach operators, will be shown in decibels as well as with a bar rating. Three bars shows the tire meets the current minimum noise legislation, two bars shows that the tire is up to three decibels quieter than the minimum and a tire a with one bar is more than three decibels quieter than that.
Like rolling resistance, wet grip will be graded on a scale from A to G, and can be expressed in terms of braking distance. The values behind the wet grip label classes are expected to be finalized in the coming weeks. (Tyres & Accessories)