Guide
The EU tyre label, explained
Fuel efficiency, wet grip and noise — what the three ratings on every new tyre measure, what a class step is worth, and where the label stops.
Last reviewed: August 2026 · LCDrive editorial team
Every new tyre sold in the UK carries a standard label with three ratings: fuel efficiency, graded A to E; wet grip, graded A to E; and exterior noise, given in decibels with a class from A to C. Fuel efficiency measures rolling resistance — the energy a tyre absorbs as it rolls. Wet grip measures braking performance on a wet road. Noise is the sound the tyre makes outside the car. LCDrive shows all three ratings on every product card next to the price, so the comparison is done before you click. Here is what each rating actually measures — and what the label cannot tell you.
Where does the tyre label come from?
The current label format was introduced across the EU in May 2021 under Regulation (EU) 2020/740, which collapsed the old A-to-G scales into the tighter A-to-E bands used today. The UK retained an equivalent label after Brexit, so the ratings on a tyre sold in Birmingham mean the same as those on one sold in Berlin.
The grades are declared by the tyre manufacturer against standardised tests, and the same format covers car, van and most 4x4 tyres. In a fitting bay you will usually meet the label as a sticker on the tread face of a new tyre; online, the same values are shown with the listing. Here is what the three ratings measure and what a class step is worth:
| Rating | Scale | What it measures | What a step is worth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel efficiency | A to E | Rolling resistance — energy lost as the tyre rolls | Roughly 0.1 litres per 100 km of fuel per class |
| Wet grip | A to E | Braking distance on a wet surface from 50 mph | Several metres of stopping distance per class |
| Exterior noise | Decibels + class A to C | Drive-by sound the tyre makes outside the car | 3 dB is roughly double the sound energy |
What does the fuel efficiency rating mean?
Fuel efficiency grades rolling resistance: how much energy the tyre converts to heat as it deforms against the road. A low-resistance tyre wastes less, so the engine — or the battery — works less. A is best, E is worst.
The differences are worth real money over a tyre's life. Each class step corresponds to roughly 0.1 litres per 100 km, and the full gap between an A and an E can amount to several per cent of a typical car's fuel consumption. On an electric car the same physics shows up as range instead of fuel.
The current LCDrive range makes the trade-off visible: the eco-focused tyres hold A and B ratings, while 2 of the outright performance flagships sit at E — grip-first compounds pay a rolling-resistance price, and the label is where that price is printed.
What does the wet grip rating mean?
Wet grip is the label's safety rating. It grades braking distance on a wet surface from 50 mph (80 km/h), and A stops shortest.
The spread is not small. Between an A and an E the stopping difference can be as much as 18 metres — more than four car lengths — with each class step worth several metres of tarmac. Given how much of the British year is wet, this is the rating that deserves the most weight when you choose.
Manufacturers know it, and compete hardest here: 15 of the 24 tyres currently in the LCDrive range hold an A wet grip rating, including every one of the performance flagships.
What do the noise figure and class mean?
The label states exterior drive-by noise in decibels, with a class from A (quietest) to C (loudest). It measures what the tyre contributes to traffic noise outside the car — not cabin noise, although the two loosely track each other.
Decibels are logarithmic: an increase of 3 dB roughly doubles the sound energy, so small numbers hide large differences. The current range spans exactly such a gap — the quietest tyres sit at 68 dB with an A class, the loudest at 73 dB in class C. If your miles are mostly motorway, the quiet end of the scale is worth seeking out.
What do the snowflake and ice symbols mean?
The three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) means the tyre has passed a standardised snow-traction test. It is the marking that separates genuine winter and all-season capability from marketing: an M+S stamp alone is a manufacturer's self-declaration with no test behind it. The 2021 label also added an ice-grip pictogram for dedicated Nordic ice tyres, which is rarely relevant to UK driving.
The 3PMSF-certified tyres in the range include dedicated winter designs and credible all-seasons. Compare the winter tyres in the range with the all-season tyres side by side, or read the winter vs summer vs all-season guide for the full decision.
How does LCDrive show the label?
Every product card in the shop carries the tyre's fuel, wet grip and noise ratings alongside its fitted price — no spec sheet to open, no PDF to download. The label works hardest when you compare within one size, because identical dimensions make the ratings directly comparable. Four tyres from the current catalogue show how wide the spread runs:
| Tyre | Size | Fuel | Wet grip | Noise | Fitted price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental EcoContact 6 | 235/45 R18 98W | A | B | 68 dB (A) | £129.99 |
| Bridgestone Turanza 6 | 205/55 R16 91V | B | A | 69 dB (B) | £89.99 |
| Continental PremiumContact 7 | 205/55 R16 91V | C | A | 70 dB (B) | £92.99 |
| Bridgestone Potenza Sport | 225/40 R19 93Y | E | A | 72 dB (C) | £179.99 |
Values as shown in the catalogue at the last review. Browse the full range with labels on every card, or line up every 205/55 R16 tyre in the range and read the trade-offs like a spec sheet.
What does the label not tell you?
Quite a lot. The label says nothing about dry braking or dry handling, nothing about wear life or expected mileage, nothing about aquaplaning resistance beyond the single wet braking test, and nothing about ride comfort, steering feel or cabin noise. Its three tests were chosen because they are repeatable, not because they are complete.
That is why a tyre can score modestly on the label and still be exceptional on the road. The performance flagships in the range carry E fuel ratings alongside A wet grip and original-equipment approval from serious manufacturers — the label alone would undersell them.
The label also describes a new tyre. Every grade is measured on a fresh example at full tread depth, and wet performance in particular tails off as the tread wears towards the legal minimum — a reason to check your tread regularly, whatever the label promised on the day of fitting. The UK tread depth law guide covers how, and how often.
How should you weigh label, brand and price?
- Wet grip first. It is the safety metric, and UK roads are wet for a large part of the year. Hold out for A or B.
- Fuel efficiency second — it compounds with every mile, so it matters most to high annual mileages and electric cars.
- Noise third, weighted by how much of your driving is motorway.
- Then brand, for everything the label omits — wear life, dry handling, steering feel. Independent tyre tests and original-equipment approvals fill this gap.
- Price last. Once the ratings and the pedigree are level, the cheaper tyre is simply the better buy — and because every price in the shop is fully fitted, what you compare is what you pay.
For quick answers to the questions this guide raises — how long tyres last, whether labels apply to part-worn tyres — the tyre FAQ is the fastest route.