A new study has shown many Brit motorists struggle to understand essential information on EU tyre labels, with widespread confusion over their key performance and safety indicators.
The study by eBay has revealed that nearly half the motorists in the UK are unfamiliar with EU tyre labels, which have been ever-present on all new tyres since 2012.
A whopping 47 per cent of those surveyed admitted they had no knowledge whatsoever about these labels' meanings, raising questions about the attention drivers pay to tyre safety when purchasing. The research found that two-thirds of motorists (66 per cent) didn't know the purpose of tyre labels at all.
More concerning still, 61 per cent said they don't bother to check labels when buying tyres, ignoring information designed to help them make the right decision — including fuel efficiency, performance, how well the tyre grips in wet conditions, its level of road noise, as well as indicators for snowy and icy conditions.
On average, the surveyed motorists got the symbols' meanings wrong two-thirds of the time (67 per cent). The most frequently misread icon was the icy conditions label, which was misunderstood by an alarming 92 per cent of respondents.
By contrast, the wet grip class symbol, shown as a rain cloud, was identified correctly by 67 per cent of participants. This made it the most recognisable tyre indicator for the drivers taking part in the study.
Despite the information being readily available, many motorists prefer to take advice from their mechanic rather than researching themselves. Three quarters of drivers (74 per cent) said they relied almost entirely on recommendations from garages.
Almost three-quarters of UK motorists prefer to take advice from their mechanic about tyres rather than researching themselves(Image: Getty Images)
More than half admitted to not doing much research — 30 per cent said they did very little, while a further 25 per cent stated they did none of any kind. Those over 65 were named as the worst offenders, with 36 per cent admitting they neglected to investigate entirely.
Government statistics underline the risks of this lack of awareness. During 2023-24, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) found that more than 2million MOT failures were due to tyre defects.
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UK Director of commercial operations, parts & accessories at eBay, Abir Tewari, said: "Despite existing in the UK for more than a decade, knowledge around EU tyre labels among UK motorists is still sparse. It is worrying that proper knowledge could make maintaining vital vehicle parts safer and cheaper. Using eBay's tyre fitment service, customers can see EU tyre labels clearly indicated in listings before deciding on a purchase, helping to identify exactly what they need and safely preparing them for any season."
So it's a good idea check your tyres and make sure you know what the labels on them mean — keeping informed can help you stay safe behind the wheel and avoid costly mistakes down the road.
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