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In order to achieve the goals fixed by the European Union for sustainable mobility, the European Commission has prepared a Regulation to introduce tyre labelling. This aims to provide end-users of vehicles with clear and relevant information about the quality of the tyre, and to guide them towards choosing a product which is more fuel efficient, has better wet braking and is less noisy.
Regulation (EC) No 1222/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2009 on the labelling of tyres with respect to fuel efficiency and other essential parameters (Text with EEA relevance).
This Regulation aims at harmonising information concerning the energy performance of tyres, as well as on wet braking and external rolling noise. It should promote tyres which are both energy-efficient and capable of braking on wet roads, and which also increase the energy efficiency and safety of road transport. The inclusion of noise should also encourage consumers to buy low noise tyres and therefore reduce traffic noise.
It applies to C1, C2 and C3 * tyres and excludes from its scope:
- re-treaded tyres;
- off-road professional tyres;
- tyres designed to be fitted only to vehicles registered for the first time before 1 October 1990;
- T-type temporary-use spare tyres *;
- tyres whose speed rating is less than 80 km/h;
- tyres whose nominal rim diameter does not exceed 254 mm or is 635 mm or more;
- tyres fitted with additional devices to improve traction properties (for example studded tyres);
- tyres designed only to be fitted on vehicles intended exclusively for racing.
Responsibilities of tyre suppliers *
Tyre suppliers must monitor the labelling of C1, C2 and C3 tyres delivered to distributors and end-users.
This labelling includes a sticker which must indicate:
- the fuel efficiency class (letter A to G);
- the wet grip class (letter A to G); at this stage the Regulation only provides classification for wet grip performance for C1 tyres, but intends to introduce a classification for C2 tyres and eventually C3 tyres once tests are available;
- the external rolling noise measured value (in decibels).
Suppliers must declare this information in the technical promotional literature * for tyres such as on their website or in catalogues.
Responsibilities of tyre distributors *
Distributors must ensure that the labels delivered by suppliers are clearly visible on the tyres presented or stored at the point of sale. If tyres cannot be seen by end-users, they must supply this information to users themselves.
Responsibilities of car suppliers and car distributors
If end-users of vehicles can choose their tyres, car suppliers and car distributors must give them the performance of each option of tyre in terms of fuel efficiency, wet braking and rolling noise.
Tyres are responsible for 20 to 30 % of vehicles’ fuel consumption. The purchase of good quality tyres therefore allows fuel consumption to be reduced considerably and consequently less CO2 to be produced. This is why labelling presenting detailed information on tyres is of prime importance for the protection of the environment.
This Regulation is part of the Lisbon Strategy and the strategy for sustainable development. It will contribute to reducing the carbon footprint of road transport, and therefore reaching the goals fixed in terms of sustainable mobility.
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|Act||Entry into force||Deadline for transposition in the Member States||Official Journal|
Regulation No 1222/2009
OJ L 342 of 22.12.2009