Tyre Wet Grip Rating 2026: A to E EU Label Chart

Tyre (tire) wet grip rating chart

Each class is a band of the wet grip index G, set out for C1 car tyres in Annex I Part B of Regulation (EU) 2020/740. The table lists the letters only. Check the regulation text for the exact G limits of each class.

A tyre wet grip rating is the letter from A to E on the EU tyre label. It shows how well a tyre brakes on a wet road compared with a standard reference tyre. A is best and E is worst. The letter comes from a measured wet grip index (G), not from a stopping distance. That means a one-letter gap tells you which tyre stops shorter, but not how many metres or feet shorter.

Where the wet grip letter comes from

The EU tyre label is set out in Regulation (EU) 2020/740, which has applied since 1 May 2021. It grades fuel efficiency and wet grip on the same A to E scale. The wet grip class is based on the wet grip index G. G is measured using the method in Annex 5 to UNECE Regulation No 117, so every tyre sold under the label goes through the same test.

G is a ratio. It compares how hard the test tyre can brake on a wet surface with how hard a reference tyre brakes in the same test. A G above 1 means the tyre grips better than the reference. The class limits in Annex I Part B are for C1 tyres, which are passenger-car tyres. Van tyres (C2) use the same letters with different G limits, so you can’t compare a C2 letter directly with a C1 letter.

The supplier declares the class, but the measurement has to support it. National authorities can check declared classes, and a tyre’s measured G must not fall below the lower limit of the class printed on its label.

A versus C: what it means for stopping distance

The A to E letters are bands of G, not distances. A tyre at the bottom of class A and a tyre at the top of class B may differ by only a small amount. Two A-rated tyres can also differ more than an A and a B. The label doesn’t turn any class gap into metres (or feet), and you should be wary of any fixed figure that claims to.

What the regulation does say is that wet grip performance well above the legal minimum reduces wet braking distances. That’s why wet grip is on the label at all. So an A tyre will stop shorter in the wet than a C tyre of the same size on the same car. How much shorter depends on speed, water depth, tread depth, road surface and the car’s brakes and ABS. Wet grip is measured on new tyres. As the tread wears, every tyre gets worse in standing water, whatever its letter.

What the wet grip label does not cover

• Snow and ice. These have their own pictograms. The Alpine symbol (mountain with snowflake) appears only if the tyre meets the snow grip minimum in UNECE Regulation No 117. A separate ice grip pictogram exists for tyres that meet the ice grip standard. A high wet grip class says nothing about winter performance. See best winter tyres 2026 and the winter tyre laws guide.
• Dry braking, handling and tread life. None of these appears on the label.
• Trade-offs. The regulation itself says that improving rolling resistance can hurt wet grip, and that better wet grip can raise rolling noise. Read the wet grip letter together with the fuel class and the noise figure. The EU tyre label guide explains all five label items, and tyre noise ratings covers the decibel value.

Wet grip ratings for US, Canadian, UK and Australian drivers

UK. Regulation 2020/740 is published on legislation.gov.uk as legislation that originated in the EU. It lists no outstanding changes by UK legislation, so tyres sold in Britain show the same A to E wet grip letter.

US and Canada. North American tires use a different system: the UTQG traction grade (AA, A, B or C) moulded on the sidewall. It comes from a different US test, so a UTQG “A” and an EU “A” are not the same thing and can’t be converted into each other. If you’re renting or buying in Europe, use the EU letter. At home, use the UTQG grade and independent wet braking tests.

Australia. Tyres sold in Australia aren’t required to carry the EU label. Many tyre ranges are also sold in Europe, though, so you can often find the EU wet grip class for the same model and size. The QR code on an EU label links to the tyre’s entry in the EU product database (EPREL).

What to do when buying tyres

1. Find your exact size and load/speed index first. The class can change between sizes of the same tyre model, so always check the label for your size. The tyre size calculator and tyre markings guide help you read the sidewall.
2. Use wet grip as your first filter. If you often drive in rain, choose the highest wet grip class you can get in your size before you look at fuel class or noise.
3. Compare within one category. Compare summer tyres with summer tyres, and car tyres (C1) with car tyres. An all-season or winter tyre with a lower wet grip letter may still be the right choice where snow is likely.
4. Fit matching pairs. Fit the same tyre across an axle so both sides grip the same in the wet.
5. Don’t trust the letter on a worn tyre. The rating describes the tyre when new. Check tread depth and pressure. The tyre wear calculator and tyre pressure calculator can help.

Sources

• Regulation (EU) 2020/740 on the labelling of tyres, Annex I Part B (wet grip classes) and Annex I (conformity), via legislation.gov.uk and EUR-Lex.
• UNECE Regulation No 117, Annex 5 (wet grip test method) and Annex 7 (snow grip test), as referenced in Regulation (EU) 2020/740.