Almost half of UK drivers do not know what the safety information displayed on EU tyre labels means, according to new research by eBay.
The study found that 47% of motorists had no knowledge of what the labels mean, despite the system being introduced in the UK more than a decade ago.
Two-thirds (66%) of those surveyed said they did not know what the labels were for, and 61% admitted they never checked them before buying new tyres.
EU tyre labels are designed to help consumers make informed choices, displaying information on fuel efficiency, wet grip, external noise levels. There's also performance in snow and ice for some tyres.
Tyre labelling originally came into force on 1 November 2012, when fuel efficiency, wet grip and rolling noise were all tested and labelling on the literature of the tyre's label.
A revision to the tyre labelling requirements was then brought in in 2021, adding a scale rating from A to E, a QR code link to the label, and the additional pictograms like the snow and ice label. As well as cars and new van tyres, the tyre labelling was also extended to buses and trucks.
The research found widespread confusion about the labels’ meaning.
On average, drivers misidentified the symbols two-thirds (67%) of the time. The icon for icy conditions was the most misunderstood, with 92% of respondents getting it wrong.
The wet grip indicator, shown by a rain cloud symbol, was the most recognised, correctly identified by 67% of drivers.
The study also found that most motorists rely heavily on professional advice rather than their own research. Nearly three-quarters (74%) said they typically follow the recommendations of garages when choosing tyres.
More than half of respondents admitted doing little (30%) or no research at all (25%) before making a purchase, with older drivers, particularly those over 65, the least likely to check.
According to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), more than two million drivers failed their MOT test in 2023–24 because of tyre defects.
