"Eco" and "sustainable" tyres combine low rolling resistance, which cuts fuel use and emissions, with a growing use of sustainable and recycled materials. The clearest, most useful measure is the fuel-efficiency grade on the EU label, because a more efficient tyre saves fuel and CO2 every mile. As with any tyre, the rule is not to trade away wet grip for green credentials.
What eco tyres actually are
"Eco tyre" isn't a strict category, so it pays to look past the marketing. In practice it means two things: a tyre engineered for low rolling resistance to reduce energy use, and increasingly, one made with a higher proportion of sustainable or recycled materials. The efficiency part has an immediate, measurable benefit; the materials part is about the tyre's wider footprint.
Low rolling resistance and CO2
Lower rolling resistance means the engine or EV battery uses less energy to keep the car moving, which cuts both fuel cost and CO2. The fuel-efficiency grade on the label, from A to E, is the simplest way to compare tyres on this, see fuel-efficient tyres. For high-mileage and electric drivers, this is where the real environmental and cost benefit lies.
Sustainable materials
Tyre makers are increasingly using sustainable materials such as natural rubber from responsibly managed sources, recycled rubber and bio-based or recycled fillers, with the long-term aim of tyres made largely from renewable and recycled content. It's an evolving area, so claims vary; the practical advice is to combine a genuine interest in sustainable materials with the hard numbers on the efficiency label.
End-of-life recycling
Sustainability doesn't end when the tyre wears out. In the UK, used tyres are recycled rather than sent to landfill, with the rubber reused in surfaces, fuel and new products, see how tyres are recycled. When we fit new tyres, we take the old ones away for proper recycling as part of the service.
We fit eco tyres
We'll help you choose an efficient, well-graded tyre and recycle your old ones, fitted at your home or work across the UK. Book a fit.
