Launch of an impact assessment on energy labelling of tyres

Consultation period: 30/04/2008 - 26/05/2008

In its Action Plan on Energy Efficiency (COM(2006)545), the European Commission announced that it would consider proposing a labelling scheme for tyres in 2008. The aim is to promote low rolling resistance tyre (LRRT) as they allow for fuel savings amounting to 3-4%. A wider use of LRRT would hence contribute to the Community strategy on reducing road transport emissions.

Promoting LRRT in the replacement market (75% of the tyre market) may be an effective way to contribute to the CO2 reduction target set in the Community strategy to reduce CO2 emissions from passenger cars and light duty vehicles.

An impact assessment has been launched to assess policy options on how to promote market transformation towards LRRT, in particular through the introduction of tyre energy labelling taking into account safety considerations and other parameters such as noise and durability. The policy options will be assessed for C1/C2 and C3 tyres taking into account the regulatory package under consideration on Advanced Safety Features and Tyres.

Within this framework, a contract has been signed with the European Policy Evaluation Consortium (GHK-TNO) to provide input to the impact assessment. We thank in advance stakeholders for their collaboration along this study.