Truck/bus tyre label arrives as new EU rules take effect

From 1 May, the new EU rules on the energy labelling of on-road tyres apply at consumer level. Updating the label first introduced for car and van tyres in 2012, the new rules require that tyres for buses and lorries must now be labelled – and offer a new pictogram, where relevant, to highlight tyres suitable for use in snow or in extreme, icy conditions.

The label follows the successful colour-coded classification system used for household machines, such as dishwashers and refrigerators, with five different classes available for rolling resistance and for braking in the wet (adjusted from the previous scale of six classes). It also covers two categories for external noise, with an indication of the value in decibels (dB).

In order to account for stocks of tyres produced before May 2021, car and van tyres bearing the old label may still be sold until the end of 2021.