Tyre ratings

[Stroller133]

I've recently noticed that tyres have now got energy efficiency style ratings like electrical items have had a for a few years. The have fuel,wet handling and a noise figure. Anybody noticed whether these ratings are any good and relate to real world performance?

[Hertz]

Not seen any ratings on my 1993 Colway retreads?

[Pillock]

They do, they're tested by boffins in white coats not the manufacturers so they should be relevant.

I wouldn't expect to meet the figures for road noise etc but they're useful as a comparison tool as they're all tested in the same place.

 

I deal with the same things on white goods and TVs and stuff.... the figures themselves are pretty meaningless (often based on average use for things like energy consumption) but you can compare two products using relative figures.

[skattrd]

I didn't notice any difference between A-C rated tyres for fuel consumption.

The ratings for grip are rubbish imo. I've used two different A rated tyres, one was much better than the other, one C rated that was shit, and one C rated that was better than one of the A's.

Noise - no idea as I have quite bad tinnitus so have the stereo quite loud

[Stroller133]

I have found some tyres, Dunlop Sport blu(something), that are B fuel, A wet, and 68db, but local tyre place need to order them and suggested some C/B alternative in stock. Just wondering if i'm being an anorak holding out for the best rated one or whether I'll really tell.

[skattrd]

I really liked the Dunlop Bluresponse tyres, decent grip and the same as anything else on fuel. However I did find the compound slightly soft, so they didn't last fantastically well, and I got my first puncture in 9 years on one of them.

[Pillock]

You're not going to be blown away by one step difference in rating. 

Remember a lot of it depends on road surface anyway, they'll react differently to different roads no matter what the letters say.

 

A "B" for grip might be "B" on all roads, where an "A" might be worse than the "B" as soon as you hit rough, or gravel, or a bit of diesel.