Industry guide launched to clarify tyre labelling responsibilities
June 28th, 2012
To coincide with the introduction of new tyre labelling laws which come into effect on July 1st and will see new tyres labelled according to three key performance criteria, the Tyre Industry Federation (TIF) has launched a new practical guide about the regulations.
The free document, which is available to download from the TIF website (www.tyreindustryfederation.co.uk) has been developed in conjunction with the Department For Transport and is designed as an authoritative and definitive guide on the topic, helping retailers and workshops comply with the new requirements.
“Tyre labelling is undoubtedly one of the biggest changes to impact on our industry in recent times,” explains David Seward, chairman, TIF. “For consumers, it will help them make a more informed choice about tyre purchases. Meanwhile for retailers there are a number of key issues they must understand and address. As a result of our extensive industry consultation, this guide is designed to help retailers meet these obligations and requirements.”
From July 1st, all new tyres manufactured for sale within Europe, must be labelled according to their performance against three key criteria; fuel efficiency, wet grip and their external noise emissions.
Retailers will be required to pass this information on to consumers from 1st November, meaning that they now have just four months left to ensure they have addressed key issues such as staff training, data handling, invoice preparation and other items.
“For too long tyres have been viewed by many drivers as a commodity item,” continues Seward. “However, if correctly employed, tyre labelling offers retailers the opportunity to move towards a more in-depth value and service-focused relationship.”