Every new tyre sold comes with a standardised label grading fuel efficiency, wet grip and noise. It's a quick, like-for-like way to compare tyres regardless of brand, much like the energy label on a fridge. For most drivers, wet grip is the rating that matters most, because it's a direct safety measure rather than a comfort or cost one.
The label has been a legal requirement on new tyres across the UK and EU for years, so you'll see it on every option a fitter offers. Here's what each rating means, how to weigh them up, and the important things the label leaves out.
The three ratings
The label boils a tyre's performance down to three headline measures, each tested to a common standard so the grades are comparable across brands.
- Fuel efficiency (A–E). Measures rolling resistance; lower resistance means better economy. An A-rated tyre uses noticeably less fuel than an E over its life.
- Wet grip (A–E). Measures wet braking performance. The difference between an A and an E can be several car lengths in an emergency stop.
- External noise. Shown in decibels with sound-wave bars; fewer bars means a quieter tyre.
How to prioritise the ratings
Put wet grip first. It's the rating most tied to safety, especially given the UK climate, see our guide to wet-weather tyre safety. Then weigh fuel efficiency for running costs, particularly if you do high mileage, and finally noise for comfort on long motorway trips.
For an EV, fuel efficiency (rolling resistance) carries extra weight because it directly affects your range, see EV tyres explained. For most other cars, a tyre graded A or B for wet grip is the priority, with fuel efficiency as the tie-breaker.
What the label doesn't tell you
The label is useful but partial. It doesn't capture dry handling, aquaplaning resistance, tread life, or how a tyre behaves at the limit, all of which matter. Two tyres can carry the same grades yet perform very differently in independent tests. Tyre-safety charity TyreSafe recommends pairing the label with independent test reviews for the full picture before you buy, rather than treating the grades as the whole story.
Newer label symbols
Updated labels can also include icons for snow grip (the three-peak mountain symbol, 3PMSF) and ice grip. These are useful if you're weighing up winter or all-season tyres, where cold-weather performance is the whole point. Many newer labels also carry a QR code linking to the tyre's full database entry, so you can check the official figures yourself.
Use the label, then let us fit
Pick the ratings that matter to you and we'll source a matching tyre and fit it at your location across the UK, showing you the label for each option first. See mobile fitting or book now.
