by Arash Hekmat
New rules relating to the sale of tyres within the EU have came into effect this month, promising to make driving and towing safer, cheaper and better for the environment.
As of 1 November, car, caravan and motorhome tyres must all be rated under the new European tyre labeling regulations.
Each tyre is evaluated for stopping distances in wet conditions, fuel efficiency and noise while driving, and then give a rating like the one pictured (right).
It is hope that this information will be used by drivers to inform their tyre purchasing decisions, with a view to buying those compounds that are safer, more durable and less polluting.
Welcoming the new rating system, Ian Hewlett, technical manager at The Camping and Caravanning Club, said it should help consumers make better purchasing choices.
“This is a good first step for the EU and the tyre industry and this may push up the quality of the product being sold and help explain the difference in cost of tyres,” he told Club Care Insurance.
“With caravan and motorhome tyres, you will inevitably have less choice due to the quantities made, but it is still worth considering.”
