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Brussels spouts

Recently H.B. asked you about the difficulty of comparing different types of car tyre. Your readers might be interested to know that the EU has proposed to introduce a mandatory label (similar to those found on fridges) that would indicate the energy efficiency (rolling resistance), safety (wet grip) and noise performance of tyres. This would make proper comparisons much easier. The tyre industry isn't very enthusiastic. But if your readers are, they should contact their MEP to voice their support using a website such as www.writetothem.com. One of the MEPs in charge is Neena Gill from the UK. More at http://ec.europa.eu/energy/strategies/2008/doc/2008_11_ser2/tyres_labelling_directive_proposal.pdf

Asked on 14 March 2009 by

Answered by Honest John
Many thanks, but after the fiasco of the EC CO2 and fuel economy
certification figures that cannot be met in real life I don't think the
public will welcome another expensive but relatively meaningless EC
certification exercise. It would be better to get the CO2 and fuel economy certification closer to reality first. Note that at least one manufacturer has been successfully sued in Germany because a car buyer could not achieve the fuel economy certification
figures the manufacturer was compelled by EC law to provide. And one of my readers obtained a small claims track judgement against Mitsubishi for the same reason on 8th December.
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