Here's a news item that has been doing the rounds over the past few weeks:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18663023
So now we are getting labels on tyres. Apart from the obvious hike in tyre costs as manufacturers seek to recover the costs of implementing such labelling, or rather an excuse to hike costs with a EU excuse, what benefit will this have do you thing ?
And how long before it gets shifted to other types of tyre ? Motorcycles for instance.
When I look at tyres, I generally do a bit of digging, of course the best way is to ask others who have used them and make an informed decision.
Car drivers are different, most drive because they have to, some because they want to. I suspect those who drive because they want to will make an informed decision anyway. Those who drive because they have to, I suspect will still make their choices against the initial cost.
I don't think road noise is going to make much impact, why should it? turn the radio up and it no longer matters!
Wet stopping distance.. Hmm... most people have no idea how long it takes to stop their car anyway. Some will quote out-of-date highway code (UK) figures, but how many people actually take their car and see how long it takes to stop?? less than 1% I would suggest. Otherwise why would so many people drive dangerously close to the car in front?
Cost per mile, this is probably the only impacting factor of these labels - money talks. But the impact of such a change is negligible against in efficient driving anyway, and drop a PSI or two and it's ineffective all together.
So, would this new label affect the way you choose your tyres for your car ?
What about if they did it for bikes (when..) ? would it make any difference, or do you stick to the same tried and tested method of asking your peers ??