Tyre manufacturers are still in the dark about how the forthcoming European Union (EU) tyre labelling regulation will be policed.

The regulation requires all tyres on sale from November 2012 to display a label showing ratings for fuel efficiency, wet grip and external noise.

Tyre manufacturers will be conducting the tests that determine the rating. The label test methods were confirmed at the end of November but manufacturers are still waiting to find out how the tests will be policed.

“We are waiting for the UK Government to decide who the enforcement agency will be,” David Smith, Continental’s UK managing director, said.

“We need to know how, or who, is going to enforce this with it being self-certification.

“I don’t believe anyone will play with the label but the opportunity is there.”
Planned revision date

Continental also confirmed the EU plans to revise the label in 2016. One of the considerations will be whether a specialist label is needed for winter tyres.

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