New car tyre label law will not stick

New EU legislation that would have required an environmental efficiency rating on all car tyres has been watered down to little more than a voluntary programme, with few rules on how or where the information should be displayed.

The Environmental Transport Association (ETA) has joined a coalition of groups calling for all tyres to have an obligatory efficiency sticker, similar to those now seen on fridges and washing machines.

Correct choice of tyre can save money and emissions

At first sight there may appear to be little difference between models of tyre, but certain designs are able to improve car fuel efficiency by reducing ‘rolling resistance’, the friction between the tyre and the road.

Tyre design strongly influences other aspects of a vehicle’s environmental performance: the majority of road traffic noise comes from tyre/road contact, and tyres determine up to 30 per cent of a vehicle’s fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions.

A spokesperson for the ETA said: “The correct choice of tyre can save motorists as much as £300 in fuel costs and over half a ton of CO₂ in emissions every year so this is a missed opportunity to promote greener driving.”

Protection against punctures

A car warranty is an insurance against future unexpected garage bills – the policy can even cover you against burst tyres. Find out more.