In November 2012 a standard label for vehicle tyres was introduced in the EU. Based on three criteria it gives information about fuel efficiency, wet grip rating and noise levels.

Fuel efficiency  - This label shows you how a tyre performs on fuel consumption - fuel efficiency is graded from A to G (rating D is not used for passenger cars). The difference between an A rating and a G rating could mean a reduction in fuel consumption of up to 7.5%. To put this in real terms, choosing A-rated tyres instead of G-rated tyres could save you more than 6 litres of fuel every 1,000 kilometres (based on an average consumption of 8 litres/100km)

  Wet grip - This label shows how well a tyre brakes in wet conditions. Graded from A to G (ratings D and G are not used for passenger cars). In an emergency situation, a few metres can make all the difference. For a passenger car applying full brakes from 50mph, a set of A-rated tyres will brake up to 18 metres shorter than a set of F-rated tyres (braking distances may vary according to driving conditions and other influencing factors)

Noise - This label shows you the noise level in decibels of a tyre. The tyre is categorised in 3 classes illustrated by 3 waves: 1 black wave - Quiet (3dB or more below the European limit), 2 black waves - Moderate (between the European limit and 3dB below) and 3 black waves - Noisy (above the European limit)