New Tyre Safety & Performance Indicators

The tyre industry has recently rolled out a new customer information program that will see all replacement tyres supplied with key performance and safety labels.

Focussing on three main areas which include fuel efficiency, wet grip and external rolling noise the new labelling will be a legal requirement as of the 1st of November 2012.

The three classes will go some way to help customers make an informed decision about their tyre purchase, allowing them to see quickly and clearly the benefits of investing in a higher class tyre.

But what do the different classes actually mean and how much do they really affect the vehicles performance?

When it comes to ensuring you get the most from your tyres, specialists have been preaching about optimum inflation levels for years. As it is scientifically proven that operating tyres either under or over inflated can have a significant affect on a cars efficiency causing motorists to fill up more often and wear through tyres quicker.

These new performance labels actually provide a rating of a tyres efficiency, highlighting through a 7 step sliding scale (A to G), that a class A tyre can reduce your overall fuel consumption by up to 7.5% (depending on your driving style and other external factors). Which when spread over the life of a tyre can make a premium choice a much more shrewd purchase and a budget tyre not as cheap as first thought.

It is not just the efficiency of the tyre that is rated on these new information labels, but also the tyres ability to affect breaking distances. For example the same class A tyre that has been proven to help reduce the vehicles overall fuel consumption can also reduce breaking distances by up to 30% when compared to a Class G tyre. This means that a typical passenger car travelling at 80kmp/h could stop 18m shorter than the same car riding on class G tyres.

The final criteria to be highlighted on the new performance labels is the external rolling noise caused by the tyres, with the dB (A) clearly marked and given a rating of 1 - 3 based on weather it's quiet, average or loud.

All though these are not the only criteria one should consider before the purchase of their new tyres they do go some way to allowing customers to make a more informed decision.

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For more information on tyres and how to choose a quality brand contact our tyre specialist today on 01257 224770 alternativley visit our website: www.cpdavidson.co.uk/service/tyres

Don't forget if you're looking for your new tyres contact C.P. Davidson today to find out how much you could save.