Tyres are key to green driving

Friday, 31st October, 2008
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European regulation on tyre design is not the stuff of which scintillating conversation is made, but the correct choice of tyre can save motorists £300 in fuel costs and over half a ton of CO2 in emissions every year.

At first sight there may appear to be little difference between models of tyre, but their design strongly influences the environmental performance of vehicles: the majority of road traffic noise comes from tyre/road contact, and tyres determine up to 30 per cent of a vehicle’s fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

Environmental noise pollution

The noise maps published for England show that in Manchester, over 17 per cent of the population is exposed to road noise levels over 65dB, and a study in Merseyside showed road traffic noise caused sleep disturbance for at least 354,100 residents.

How can I help?

Proposed EU regulation on tyre design will reduce environmental noise pollution and lower CO2 emissions whilst maintaining vehicle safety.

Please take a moment, the earlier the better, to ask your MEP to support the regulation. MEPs receive relatively few letters from their constituents. In part because most of us do not know who they are.You can find your MEP’s email address at the website Write to them and you are welcome to use the suggested text below:

To: Your MEP Subject: Tyre noise legislation
.

I am a constituent of yours and I’m writing to ask you to support the EC proposal for Tyres in Type-approval Requirements for the General Safety of Motor Vehicles COD 2008/100.
By addressing tyre safety, CO2 emissions and noise, the proposed regulation promises to demonstrate how environmental impacts – both local and global, can be addressed along with safety and reducing fuel consumption, therefore facilitating economic savings for both business and the public. I believe there is sufficient evidence that there is no conflict between safety and environmental considerations, and am therefore, wholeheartedly in favour of the following measures:
  • Tyre labelling for rolling resistance and noise – including sidewall marking which would inform the second hand market
  • The acceleration of implementation of rolling resistance measures as a valuable tool in meeting 2020 goals for CO2 reduction.
  • On noise, I support advancing targets for introducing quieter tyres to support states in meeting the aims of the Environmental Noise Directive


    As you know, the final plenary vote is to take place in the European parliament in January or early February 2009. Please could you let me know whether you intend to vote for this regulation?

    Thank you for your time

Green driving

The ETA is a not-for-profit ethical organisation providing motorists and cyclists with carbon-neutral breakdown cover and insurance products. As well as encouraging responsible driving to reduce carbon, the ETA campaigns for sustainable transport.

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