New tire labels. What do they mean?

Europe became the first region in the world to have ice grip markings on tires. There is also a snow grip symbol and a QR code leading to the tire database.

Throughout the European Union, tire labeling is being modernized. The new marking is mandatory for tires manufactured after May 1, 2021 and will gradually roll out to commercially available tyres.

All season, summer and winter tires (without studs) sold in the European Union received their first labels in 2012. The labeling requirement only applied to passenger car, SUV and van tires, and the information requested included rolling resistance, wet grip and ambient rolling noise. New labels must contain snow and ice traction information as well as a QR code. These requirements do not apply to studded winter tires.

The right tires for the right conditions

The old labels did not provide information about the full performance of winter tires.

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- In practice, wet grip is the opposite of ice grip: the development of one leads to a decrease in the other. Tires developed by for Central Europe, they highlight the properties needed on open roads, and the ice grip symbol indicates that the tire really works and remains safe in the difficult winter conditions in the Scandinavian countries. On the other hand, the snow grip symbol indicates that the tire meets the official EU requirements for snow grip, which is especially important in Germany, Italy and Scandinavian countries. We do not recommend using tires designed for Central Europe in conditions for which they are not intended. - Speaks Matty Morrie, Customer Service Manager Nokian Tires.

- Consumers are ordering more and more products online. Being able to check the symbols on the labels and order the most suitable tires for the conditions of use is a significant advantage for them. Professional help is available at tire shops, but getting that kind of support online is much more difficult. Morrie adds.

Base of all tires

The QR code is a new element on the tire label that directs the user to a database that contains information about all tires available on the European market. Product information is standardized, making it easy to compare tires.

– In the future, tire labels will be even more comprehensive, as they will also include abrasion information, i.e. tire wear, and mileage, i.e. duration of tire use on the road. The decision has already been made, but it will take years to develop testing methods - He says Yarmo Sunnari, Standards and Regulations Manager z Nokian Tires.

What do the new tire labels inform drivers about?

• Rolling resistance affects fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. Winter tires in the best category save 0,6 liters of fuel per 100 km compared to the lowest category.
• Wet grip indicates your stopping distance. On wet pavement, the best tires need almost 20 meters less than the weakest category tires to stop a vehicle traveling at 80 km/h.
• The external rolling noise value indicates the level of noise outside the vehicle. Using quieter tires will reduce the noise level.
• The snow grip symbol indicates that the tire meets official requirements and performs well on snow.
• The ice grip symbol indicates that the tire has passed the ice grip test and is suitable for winter driving in Nordic countries. This symbol is currently only used for passenger car tyres.

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