EU Tyre Label Explained: Fuel Efficiency, Wet Grip, Noise and Snow

What the EU tyre label shows

The regulation covers C1 tyres for cars, C2 tyres for light commercial vehicles and C3 tyres for trucks and buses. For tyre size, load index and speed rating, our tyre size calculator compares two sizes side by side.

The classes behind the letters

The letters are bands of measured values set in Annex I of the regulation. For car tyres (C1):

A rolling resistance coefficient of 6.5 N/kN means the tyre needs 6.5 newtons of force to keep rolling for every kilonewton of load. The wet grip index compares the tyre's wet braking with a reference tyre: the higher the index, the better. Pirelli notes that rolling resistance is tested at 80 km/h and wet grip at 65 km/h.

What the classes mean on the road

Fuel efficiency and wet grip are where class differences turn into litres and metres:

The two fuel figures differ because they rest on different assumptions; treat them as a range rather than a promise.

A worked example. Take DEKRA's 0.5 l/100 km saving and a car driven 15,000 km a year: 15,000 ÷ 100 × 0.5 = 75 litres a year. If the tyres last four years, that is about 300 litres. Multiply by the fuel price where you live, or enter both consumption figures in the fuel cost calculator to get the difference in euros. A set of class E tyres that is cheap to buy can cost more over its life.

The wet grip difference matters even more. Eighteen metres is roughly four car lengths. On a wet road, that can decide whether you stop in time.

Noise classes and decibels

The noise class is set against the EU noise limit for that tyre size. DEKRA explains the bands:

• Class A: more than 3 dB below the limit.
• Class B: at the limit or up to 3 dB below it.
• Class C: meets the limit.

The dB(A) figure itself is more useful than the letter when comparing two tyres. Pirelli points out that just 3 dB separates the quietest class A tyres from class B, and DEKRA notes that an increase of 10 dB is perceived as about twice as loud. The value measures noise outside the car, which affects people near the road.

Snow and ice pictograms

The snow pictogram, a three-peak mountain with a snowflake (3PMSF), shows that the tyre meets minimum snow grip values set in UN Regulation No 117.

The ice grip pictogram is different. The regulation requires sellers to state that ice grip tyres are designed for ice and compacted snow and should be used only in very severe conditions. In milder weather they can perform sub-optimally on wet roads, in handling and in wear. For most drivers in central and western Europe, a 3PMSF tyre is the right winter choice, not an ice grip tyre. Our guide on how to choose winter tyres covers the selection in more detail.

What changed with the 2021 label

The EU tyre label was first introduced in 2012. The revised version, which took effect on 1 May 2021, changed several things:

When comparing old reviews with new tyres, do not read an old "C" as equal to a new "C": the bands were redrawn.

What the label does not tell you

DEKRA lists what the label leaves out: behaviour on dry roads, driving stability, steering precision and durability. German Wikipedia's summary adds aquaplaning and wear.

That is why it should be one input, not the whole decision:

1. Start with wet grip. Choose class A or B for the tyres you drive on most in wet weather.
2. Check fuel efficiency. Class A or B pays back over a long life, especially at high annual mileage.
3. Compare the dB figure if road noise matters to you.
4. Read independent tests from automobile clubs and tyre magazines for dry handling, aquaplaning and wear.
5. Check pressures after fitting. DEKRA reminds drivers that low pressure raises rolling resistance and, if much too low, can shorten tyre life and destroy the tyre.

Dealers must show the label clearly where tyres are sold. The QR code or the EPREL database lets you check the data for any tyre type.