Goodyear Dunlop reflects on EU tyre label legislation

About 100 days have passed since the introduction of the new EU tyre label legislation in November 2012, affecting millions of tyres sold in Europe. Goodyear Dunlop Europe,reflected on its experience of the new legislation at a press conference at the Geneva Motor Show last week.

Whilst tyre dealers across Europe are well-informed about the EU tyre Label, its requirements and limitations, consumers are still largely unaware of the label, explained Michel Rzonzef, Goodyear’s Vice President for its Consumer tyre business across EMEA: “We expect that the label will have its first major impact on consumer choice in the coming summer season. This is also the time when millions of drivers in typical winter tyre markets change from winter to summer tyres.”

The new tyre label has not had a significant impact on the winter tyre season, Goodyear Dunlop claims. The label only gives a limited picture of a tyre, with winter tyres being a prime example of the label’s limitations. The label does not take into account winter performance criteria such as braking and grip at low temperatures on snow or ice. “We take over 50 criteria in consideration when developing a tyre while the label only covers three,” said Rzonzef.

“Going into the summer season, we are extremely well prepared. We have manufactured our 1,000,000th BA tyre and showcase at this show our two 2013 top-label products: the Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance and Dunlop BluResponse, both achieving a B-label in rolling resistance and an A-label in wet grip in most sizes. The BA rating is currently the highest label grade on the market that is available in a significant number of sizes. In the Ultra-High Performance summer tyre segment, Goodyear Dunlop covers about 25% of the sizes with its BA-rated products.”

Rzonzef added: “Our research shows that buyers of premium products prefer label grades minimum above ‘C’. Therefore I am very happy that our current portfolio covers two third of the sizes of Europe’s passenger car summer tyre market with tyres labeled CC or above.”

The company also highlighted that the legislation’s enforcement remains key to the label’s success. Rzonzef said: “We understand the difficulties EU member states face to control this complicated piece of legislation and enforce its correct use, but the credibility of the EU tyre Label is reliant on effective enforcement. We are calling on member states to ensure tyres with obviously incorrect labels are not allowed within the European Union. Consumers can only trust correct tyre label data.”

Goodyear Dunlop tests its products on own proving grounds in Luxembourg, France and Germany and develops its products at highly sophisticated Innovation Centers in Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg and Hanau, Germany. The new regulation meant significant investment for Goodyear Dunlop, owning two premium brands which both aim to offer the best performing tyres.

Goodyear Dunlop’s strength in developing tyres that provide excellent performance across a variety of performance criteria and not only in the three tyre label criteria has again been proven by several recent tyre tests published this spring season. The Dunlop Sport BluResponse in the size 195/65 R 15 91V is one of the test winners of the 2013 summer tyre test of AutoBild, one of Germany’s leading automotive magazines.

The Dunlop Sport BluResponse in the same size also won the test of ACE Auto Club Europe and GTUE, one of Germany’s largest officially recognized inspection organizations of freelance certified inspectors. Goodyear’s latest product, the Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance was awarded “very recommendable” in the same test. Magazine tyre tests evaluate the performance of tyres across a range of 15 or more criteria.

Adopted in November 2009, the Regulation N°1222/2009 on the labeling of tyres has been applicable since 1st November 2012. The label provides information on fuel efficiency, wet grip and external rolling noise.