Every new tyre sold in the UK carries a standardised label rating three things. It is the only way to compare two tyres in the same size on measured performance rather than marketing, and it takes about ten seconds to read.
What the label shows
- FuelRolling resistance, graded A to E. A is the most efficient.
- Wet gripWet braking performance, graded A to E. A stops shortest.
- NoiseExternal pass by noise in decibels, plus a class of A, B or C.
The scale ran A to G on older labels. It was compressed to A to E in 2021, so a modern C is not the same as a C from years ago.
Fuel efficiency
This measures rolling resistance, which is how much energy the tyre wastes as it deforms. Lower resistance means less fuel burned, or on an electric car, more range.
The gap between an A rated and an E rated tyre is roughly 7.5% of fuel consumption. Over the life of a set of tyres that is real money, and it is worth weighing against the purchase price rather than just buying the cheapest.
On an EV it matters more, because rolling resistance is a larger share of total energy use when there is no engine wasting most of it as heat.
Wet grip
This is the one to prioritise. It measures braking performance on a wet surface, and the differences are not subtle.
Between an A rated and an E rated tyre, wet stopping distance from 50mph differs by around 18 metres. That is more than four car lengths, and it is the difference between stopping and not.
If you only look at one rating, look at this one. It is where the money goes when you move from a budget tyre to a premium one in the same size.
Noise
Measured in decibels, with a class letter:
- AQuietest
- BAverage
- CLoudest
Worth knowing that this is external noise, measured as the tyre passes a microphone at the roadside. It is a regulatory measure of noise pollution, not a promise about cabin quietness. A tyre can score well here and still drone on a coarse motorway surface.
Decibels are logarithmic, so a 3dB difference is roughly double the sound energy.
Snow and ice symbols
Newer labels can also carry two icons. The three peak mountain snowflake means the tyre passed a severe snow performance test. The ice grip symbol, a mountain with an icicle, means it was tested specifically for braking on ice.
Both are tested standards rather than manufacturer claims, unlike the M+S marking on the sidewall.
What the label does not tell you
Plenty. There is no rating for dry braking, cornering grip, steering response, aquaplaning resistance, tread life or ride comfort. Two tyres can hold identical labels and behave completely differently.
Use the label to narrow a shortlist, then read independent tests from motoring organisations and magazines for the rest. The label is a floor, not a full picture.
How to use it when buying
Start with wet grip, because that is safety. Then use fuel efficiency to sanity check the running cost of a cheaper tyre. Then noise if you do a lot of motorway miles.
Every tyre on our product pages shows its label ratings, so you can compare across brands in your size directly.