Quiet tyres

Noise emitted by tyres starts to exceed engine noise at just 25 km/h. The trend towards ever heavier vehicles with wide tyres is increasing rolling noise. However, quieter tyres can reduce noise directly where it is generated.

The various tyre models on the market differ considerably in terms of their performance. The tyre label introduced in the EU has also been mandatory in Switzerland since 1 August 2014. This provides information on noise, wet grip and energy efficiency in classes ranging from A to E, similar to the energy labels for cars and electronic equipment.

Pay attention to noise values when replacing tyres

The tyre label indicates a tyre’s noise level in three classes from A to C. The volume is also given in decibels (dB). Class A tyres are up to three decibels quieter than class B tyres. This means that if all motor vehicles were fitted with quiet tyres, noise pollution would be reduced by roughly the same amount as if traffic were halved.

The EU tyre list provides an overview of tyres that produce minimal noise but are still safe and energy efficient. All tyre labels and product information sheets for available models can be found in the European Product Registry for Energy Labelling. Tyre labels can also be created and downloaded via the registry:

EPREL Public website

Bundesamt für Energie BFE: Sichere, leise und energieeffiziente Reifen

Deutsches Umweltbundesamt: Überprüfung der Geräuschemissionen von Motorrädern im realen Verkehr