What tire parameters are most important in winter?
From November 1 of this year. tires for passenger cars and trucks must have labels informing about the three parameters selected. One of them is the wet road dynamometer, a parameter especially important in winter, which guarantees the driver safe driving.
1 November 2012 Regulation (EU) No 122/009 of the European Parliament and of the Council 2009
manufacturers are required to label tires in terms of fuel efficiency, wet braking distances and noise levels. This applies to tires for cars, vans and trucks. According to the regulations, information about the tire must be visible in the form of a label pasted on the tread (except for trucks) and in all information and advertising materials. Labels affixed to the tires will show pictograms of the listed parameters and the rating each tire received on a scale from A (highest) to G (lowest), as well as the number of waves and the number of decibels in the case of external noise.
Does the perfect tire exist?
It would seem that drivers have no choice but to look for tires with ideal parameters, the best in each of the three categories. Nothing could be more wrong. “It is worth remembering that the parameters characterizing the tire structure are closely related and have mutual influence. Good wet grip does not go hand in hand with rolling resistance, resulting in lower fuel consumption. Conversely, the higher the rolling resistance parameter, the longer the braking distance in winter conditions and the lower the safety of the driver and passengers of the car,” explains Arthur Post from ITR SA, which distributes Yokohama tires. “The buyer must decide for himself which of the parameters is most important to him. Thanks to the labels, he now has the opportunity to objectively check the same characteristics of tires from different manufacturers and make the right choice.”
To better understand the relationship between the indicators, we will use the examples of Yokohama W.drive V902A winter tires. These tires are made from a special compound enriched with ZERUMA, which provides resistance to temperature extremes. Due to this, they do not harden under the influence of frost. They have a lot of dense sipes and massive blocks arranged in an aggressive tread pattern, which allows them to “bite” into the surface, guaranteeing excellent grip in winter. In category “wet braking” 
Tires Yokohama W.drive V902A received the highest rating - class A. The values of the other two parameters, however, will not be high, because perfectly grippy tires have high rolling resistance (class C or F depending on the size). “Yokohama pays special attention to safety and the shortest possible stopping distance,” comments Artur Obushny. “The difference between a Class A tire and a Class G tire in braking distances on wet surfaces can be up to 30%. According to Yokohama, in the case of a typical passenger car traveling at 80 km/h, this gives the W.drive a 18 m shorter stopping distance than another tire with grip class G.”
What will labels give?
The new labeling system, similar to the stickers on household appliances, will provide drivers with a clear and easily accessible source of information to help them make purchasing decisions in line with their expectations. The purpose of the introduced markings is also to increase safety and economy, as well as to reduce the impact of road transport on the environment. Labels are designed to encourage manufacturers to look for new solutions that optimize the value of all parameters. Yokohama is currently using a number of advanced technologies for this purpose, including the Advanced Inner Linner, which reduces tire air loss by more than 30%, and HydroARC channels, which guarantee excellent grip and stability when entering corners. Such improvements are used in various types of tires. It is possible that one day they will be able to connect in a perfect combination.
