EU Tyre Label 2026: Wet Grip, Fuel, A/B/C Noise and QR Code

Reading the EU tyre label — the quick answer

Under Regulation (EU) 2020/740, in force since 1 May 2021, every new car, van and truck tyre sold in the EU carries a label with five pieces of information: a fuel efficiency class from A to E, a wet grip class from A to E, an external noise class (A, B or C) with the measured value in decibels, a snow and/or ice pictogram if the tyre has earned it, and a QR code linking to the EU product database. Wet grip is the safety rating; the European Commission puts one class at 3 to 6 metres of extra stopping distance. The rest of this guide explains each part and how to weigh them.

💡 Compare quiet tyres: our tyre noise ratings chart lists the dB limits behind the A, B and C noise classes by tyre width.

What is on the label

The top of the label also names the supplier, the tyre type identifier, the size with load index and speed symbol, and the tyre class (C1, C2 or C3).

The Three Graded Ratings

Fuel Efficiency

The fuel efficiency class reflects the tyre’s rolling resistance coefficient (RRC), the energy lost as the tyre deforms while it rolls. For a car tyre (C1) the bands are:

Van (C2) and truck (C3) tyres use tighter bands of their own. The European Commission estimates that each class step is worth on average about 80 litres of fuel over the tyre’s life in a combustion-engined car, or tens of kilometres of range per charge in a battery electric car. That makes the fuel class most relevant to high-mileage drivers and EV owners.

Wet Grip

The wet grip class comes from a braking test on a wet surface and is expressed as a wet grip index (G). For car tyres:

According to the European Commission, the difference between one class and the next can mean an extra 3 to 6 metres of stopping distance. Over several classes that adds up to car lengths, which is why wet grip should be the first rating you look at if you regularly drive in rain. For more on wet-weather driving, see our driving in rain safety guide.

External Rolling Noise

The noise rating is the noise the tyre makes outside the car, measured in a coast-by test, and is shown both as a number in dB(A) and as a class letter. The letter compares that number with the legal noise limit for the tyre’s size and type:

The old pre-2021 label showed the same three bands as one, two or three sound waves. Since May 2021 the label prints the letters A, B and C under the noise pictogram and highlights the tyre’s class.

A 3 dB difference doubles the sound energy the tyre emits. The Commission notes that low-noise tyres measure between 67 and 71 dB, and the loudest go up to 77 dB. External noise is not the same as cabin noise, but for most drivers it is the tiebreaker between tyres that are otherwise similar. Our tyre noise ratings chart gives the limits by tyre width.

Snow and Ice Pictograms

The current label adds two pictograms that the original 2012 label did not have.

• Snow grip: the three-peak mountain with a snowflake (often called 3PMSF or the Alpine symbol). It appears only if the tyre meets the minimum snow grip index in UN Regulation 117, so it marks a tyre meant for severe snow conditions.
• Ice grip: a pictogram of an ice stalagmite. It appears only if the tyre meets the minimum ice grip index. The Commission describes it as relevant to extremely cold conditions in Nordic and arctic regions.

A tyre may show one, both or neither. Many winter tyres show the snow symbol only. A label with no pictogram at the bottom means the tyre has not been classified for severe snow or ice. Our winter tyre guide explains how these markings relate to national winter tyre rules.

The QR Code and EPREL

Every label carries a QR code. Scanning it opens the tyre’s entry in EPREL, the European Product Registry for Energy Labelling, where you can see the label and the product information sheet for that exact tyre type. This lets you check a label you see in an advert or online shop against the registered data, and compare tyres side by side.

What Changed in 2021

Regulation (EU) 2020/740 replaced the 2009 tyre label regulation from 1 May 2021. The main changes:

• Fuel and wet grip went from A-G to A-E. The old scale contained empty classes (for car tyres, D and G were unused for wet grip and D was unused for fuel), so the new scale simply drops them.
• Noise became a letter. The waves were replaced by an A, B or C class shown under the dB value.
• Snow and ice pictograms and a QR code were added.
• Truck and bus (C3) tyres now need the label too, and online shops and visual adverts must display it.

Which Tyres Carry the Label

The label is required for C1, C2 and C3 tyres placed on the EU market. Article 2 of the regulation excludes:

• professional off-road tyres
• tyres designed only for vehicles first registered before 1 October 1990
• T-type temporary-use spare tyres
• tyres with a speed rating below 80 km/h
• tyres for rims of 254 mm or less, or 635 mm or more
• studded tyres and tyres with other traction devices
• tyres made only for racing vehicles
• second-hand tyres, unless imported from outside the EU

Retreaded tyres will be included once a suitable test method exists.

How the Ratings Are Measured

All three graded ratings are measured with the test methods of UN Regulation 117: a drum test for rolling resistance (Annex 6), a wet braking test for wet grip (Annex 5) and a coast-by test past roadside microphones for noise (Annex 3). Snow grip is tested under Annex 7. The supplier runs the tests and declares the results, and national market surveillance authorities can check them.

The tests are carried out under controlled conditions, so real-world performance will differ with vehicle weight, driving style, road surface and temperature. Because every tyre goes through the same procedure, the label is still a fair way to compare one tyre with another.

How to Use the Label When Buying Tyres

Start with the right size, load index and speed rating for your car, then use the label to choose between the tyres that fit.

1. Wet grip first. Choose A or B where you can, especially if you drive often in rain.
2. Fuel efficiency second. Among those, pick the best fuel class you can afford; it matters most for high-mileage drivers and EVs.
3. Noise as a tiebreaker. Prefer class A if two tyres are otherwise close.
4. Winter use. If you need a winter tyre, look for the snow pictogram, and the ice pictogram as well if you drive in Nordic conditions.
5. Check the QR code to confirm the label matches the registered data in EPREL.

Grip and rolling resistance can pull against each other, because a compound that rolls easily is not always the one that grips best on a wet road. A tyre that scores well on both is usually the better buy.

Limitations of the EU Tyre Label

The label does not cover dry braking and handling, cornering, aquaplaning resistance, tread life, ride comfort or performance on cold dry roads. Two tyres with identical labels can still behave differently. Independent tyre tests, such as those published by ADAC in Germany, TCS in Switzerland and Which? in the United Kingdom, test those extra characteristics.

The label also describes the tyre when new. Grip in the wet falls as the tread wears towards the legal minimum, so tread depth and tyre age still matter after you buy.

Tyre Labels Outside the EU

Other markets have their own consumer schemes with different tests and scales. In the United States, NHTSA’s Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG) rates treadwear, traction and temperature resistance, which do not map onto the EU classes. If you buy tyres elsewhere, read the local label on its own terms; our tyre law pages for countries such as Germany and the United Kingdom cover the legal side.

How Labels Relate to Other Tyre Specifications

The label complements the markings on the sidewall rather than replacing them. The tyre size markings tell you whether the tyre fits, the load index whether it can carry your car, and the speed rating whether it suits your car’s top speed. The label then helps you choose among the tyres that pass all three.

Conclusion

Read the label in this order: wet grip for safety, fuel efficiency for running costs, the noise class as a tiebreaker, the snow and ice pictograms for winter use, and the QR code to check the tyre in EPREL. Combined with correct tyre pressure and regular rotation, it helps you get the most safety and value from every set of tyres.

Sources

• Regulation (EU) 2020/740 on the labelling of tyres (Articles 2 and 4, Annex I Parts A to E, Annex II): https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2020/740/oj
• Regulation (EC) No 1222/2009, the previous tyre label (A-G scales with empty classes, Annex I): https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32009R1222
• European Commission, Energy efficient products: tyres (80 litres per fuel class, 3 to 6 metres per wet grip class, 3 dB and the 67 to 77 dB range, snow and ice pictograms, EPREL): https://energy-efficient-products.ec.europa.eu/product-list/tyres_en
• EPREL public site, tyres: https://eprel.ec.europa.eu/screen/product/tyres