LUXEMBOURG, Nov. 3, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With one year to go until millions of tires across Europe have to be labeled with a sticker indicating their performance in three important areas, Goodyear Dunlop reveals that significant work is going on behind the scenes grading over 10,000 different tire types and sizes of passenger car and truck tires according to the new EU test methodology.1
See video from Goodyear-Dunlop at: http://inr.synapticdigital.com/goodyeardunlop/eutirelabel
Following the new EU legislation, from November 2012, consumers will see tires in their dealerships carrying a standardized label which provides information on three key tire performance attributes of rolling resistance, wet grip and exterior rolling noise. From that date, all passenger car, light truck and truck tires produced as of July 2012 must be sold with this performance information, and all passenger car and light truck tires produced as of July 2012 will literally carry a sticker. The company is confident this will increase interest in tires and empower consumers and fleet owners to focus more on performance when purchasing a tire.
"The new EU Tire Label will change the way tires are sold and the way they are purchased. It will draw attention to the important role tires play in road safety and to the quality benefits that premium brands deliver. We are educating our business partners, explaining how the tire label can help them guide consumers towards safer and more environmentally friendly tires. Premium manufacturers such as Goodyear Dunlop with high quality products will benefit from the new tire label since it gives access to objective and comparable information on performance," said Arthur de Bok, President Goodyear Dunlop EMEA.
Each tire type and size will have to be graded and will be tested and self-certified by tire manufacturers. At Goodyear Dunlop over 270 test drivers, test engineers and technicians are currently busy gathering the data of over 10,000 different types and sizes of passenger car and truck tires according to the EU approved test methodology.1
"The three test criteria on the tire label are already part of the 50 performance criteria we evaluate in our extensive testing program of each new product. The upcoming tire label therefore doesn't add new testing criteria but it requires additional self-certification and grading according to specific EU-wide agreed test methods," explained Emmanuel Robinet, Head of Goodyear Dunlop's Tire Evaluation Department.
Jens Volmicke, Goodyear Dunlop Director Corporate Communications EMEA, said: "To date we see that little information has been communicated on the EU tire label. We are therefore preparing a range of educational tools, training and events such as the Road Safety Days for various stakeholders and partners, with the ultimate aim of ensuring the end consumer receives informed and sound advice on both the benefits and challenges of the new EU tire label."
Jean-Pierre Jeusette, General Director, Goodyear Innovation Center Luxembourg, explained: "For a major tire manufacturer like Goodyear Dunlop who sold over 70 Million tires across Europe, Middle East and Africa in 2010, thousands of different types and sizes of tires need to be certified and millions of these physically labeled. A simple thing like adding a small sticker to the tire has a significant impact on manufacturing and logistical processes. We are confident that all of the required processes are in place in time for the label introduction. We believe the EU tire label will benefit consumers, fleet owners and tire purchasers and guide them towards safer and more fuel efficient tires, which can have a positive impact on the European community and its citizens."
For free broadcast quality b-roll and soundbites supporting this press release, please visit www.thenewsmarket.com/goodyear-dunlop.
"Significant work going on behind the scenes"
Interview with Jean-Pierre Jeusette, General Director Goodyear Innovation Center Luxembourg
Jean-Pierre Jeusette is General Director of the Goodyear Innovation Center Luxembourg (GIC*L), one of the most sophisticated tire research, development and evaluation centers in the world. He is responsible for the work of over 900 highly specialized R&D engineers, scientists and tire testers.
With one year to go until legislation requires that comparable information has to be provided on three important areas of performance for millions of tires across Europe, Jean-Pierre Jeusette talks about the new rules and the significant work that is going on behind the scenes at Goodyear Dunlop.
Did you expect the introduction of such legislation across Europe?
As member of the European Type & Rubber Manufacturers Association (ETRMA) Goodyear Dunlop has been involved in the formulation of the EU tire label legislation from an early stage. We were able to advise policy makers on the important role tires play in the environmental and safety performance of a vehicle. Tires can contribute to reduced fuel consumption and fewer CO2 emissions and – for me the key element – have a major influence on the vehicle's safety performance. For instance, with a wise tire choice, drivers can significantly influence a shorter stopping distance. Since the announcement of the new EU legislation we have been ensuring our associates are well informed on what the tire label is and what impact we believe it might have. Now we are going to inform car makers, tire dealers and other important business partners about the upcoming label introduction.
Do you think the EU tire label introduction is a good thing?
Yes, definitely. I believe the regulation is focused on increasing the safety and the economic and environmental efficiency of road transport by better informing drivers on the safety and environmental performance of tires. Working with tires every day, I know what sophisticated high-technology products they are, but for most people they are hard to distinguish. We believe the EU tire label will help guide not only consumers, but also fleet owners and professional tire purchasers to choose safer and more fuel-efficient tires with low noise levels.
Does the label tell consumers everything they need to know?
This is important, as the EU tire label is a good starting point, but does not tell you everything. There are many more safety, performance and environmental related parameters that need to be considered when judging a tire's performance. Goodyear Dunlop analyzes over 50 criteria during the tire development and testing process, such as the tire's wet and dry handling performance, its stopping distance on dry roads and its aquaplaning resistance, just to name just a few.
To read the whole interview, please download the document attached.
About Goodyear Dunlop:
Goodyear has 111 years' worth of experience in developing a vital part of any vehicle - the tire. We believe that we have a responsibility to be involved in the tire safety debate, and we want to contribute to safer mobility.
In Europe, Goodyear Dunlop is a signatory to The European Road Safety Charter (ERSC).
Goodyear Dunlop supported the idea of an EU Tire Label that makes it easier for consumers to judge tire performance from an environmental and safety perspective. Goodyear Dunlop has supported the mandatory introduction of the Tire Pressure Monitoring System – an electronic system designed to monitor the air pressure inside a tire – in all new passenger cars from 2012, and all cars sold from 2014.
Goodyear Dunlop also supports the idea of member states bringing in laws around winter tires to improve road safety in winter conditions.
Goodyear Dunlop is engaging with stakeholders to demonstrate the importance of road safety.
1 Final set of rules still need to be approved by the EU.