Basic HTML Version
160
MOTORINDIA
l
August 2012
EU label available for all CV tyres
from
Continental
On July 1 year, the Hanover-based
Continental classified all relevant
commercial vehicle tyres for the
new EU label that will be required
by law from November 1, and in-
formed retailers about the figures.
The company tested around 500
truck and bus tyres in accordance
with the test methods prescribed
by the EU to determine all relevant
figures and classify each type in all
sizes according to energy efficiency,
wet grip and external rolling noise.
The EU commission agreed on
these three categories mainly be-
cause of the environmental issues.
It wants to create more transparency
and make it easier for consumers to
compare tyres in terms of safety,
economy and environmental as-
pects.
Continental has now integrated all
measured tyre data into
existing internal and
external SAP-support-
ed computer systems
and made it available to
retailers. In future, tyre
retailers will be able to
provide potential and
existing customers with
information on the fuel
efficiency, wet grip and
noise emissions of indi-
vidual tyres. Unlike car
and transporter tyres,
there will not be an EU
label sticker on the ac-
tual truck and bus tyres.
Instead Continental and
the sales partners will
list the data in the tech-
nical documents for the
products, in the sales
rooms, on the Internet
and on invoices.
Herbert Mensching, Managing
Director (Marketing & Sales), Truck
Tires EMEA, says: “A large amount
of studying lies ahead for the tyre
manufacturers and tire retailers.
Properties like mileage, handling
and life are not covered by the tyre
label, but are important when choos-
ing tyres and, above all, when work-
ing out the lowest total costs in the
fleet.”
The EU directive 1222/2009 for
obligatory labeling of new tyres will
come into force on November 1. For
tyres that are produced after July
1, and sold after November 1, the
measured values must be indicated
in accordance with the EU tyre label
regulation. This applies for all car,
transporter, truck and bus tyres sold
in Europe.
Continental supports the new EU
tyre label because it creates more
transparency in the selection of
tyres. It can only provide an initial
reference point, however. The label
cannot replace good advice from a
specialist retailer.
w
tyres
Mr. Herbert Mensching, Managing Director
(Marketing & Sales), Truck Tires EMEA