Global tire producers are gearing up for a launch of mandatory labeling in Europe effective November 1, by introducing tires that meet the new requirements.
The EU label needs to include information about a tire's fuel consumption, wet grip and external noise level. The deployment of the labels began on June 1. By 2014, all new vehicles need to be equipped with approved tires.
On Thursday, France's Michelin introduced two lines of tires, one for cars and the other for light utility vehicles.
Michelin said its Saver+ tire reduces fuel consumption by 200 liters for every 45,000 km traveled while its Agilis+ tire saves 270 liters of fuel for every 60,000 km traveled.
On July 2, Japan's Toyo Tire & Rubber will start sales of its Nanoenergy Zero tire line, following the Nanoenergy 1 line introduced in February.
Toyo Tires plans to launch both products in Europe in October.
Like Europe, the Japan Automobile Tyre Manufacturers Association has introduced a voluntary domestic tire labeling system, which began in January 2010. South Korea, too, implemented voluntary tire labeling on November 14, 2011, which will become mandatory from December this year.
But EU tire labeling move is a challenge for Chinese exporters. In late May, the China Rubber Industry Association said about 30% of locally manufactured tires will not be able to meet the EU regulation.
China is expected to produce around 483 million tires in 2012, nearly 6% more than the 456 million produced in 2011.
In 2010, China, Japan and South Korea together accounted for 54% of the EU's tire imports for passenger cars and light trucks, according to statistics from the European Tyre & Rubber Manufacturers' Association based in Brussels. In 2010, car and light truck tire imports totaled more than 108 million units, according to data from the European Commission.
Of the total, China accounted for 40.7 million units, Japan for 10.8 million and South Korea for 14.5 million units.
