Those who were counting on a "tire bonus" were disappointed. The amendment proposed by some members of parliament to the Energy Decree – a contribution of up to 200 euros for the purchase of a set of Class A or B car tires – was withdrawn by the signatories. Having lost the possibility of a "little help" from the State to switch to higher energy class tires, is it still worth buying more efficient ones? Let's see.
Since last May 2021, the new energy label for tires has been in force: 5 categories of energy class, from A to E. Like home appliances or light bulbs. Compared to the previous one, the new label is more complete and transparent. The main innovations: simplification of grip and noise classes, indication of grip on snow and ice, introduction of a QR Code that allows access to additional and specific information on the product. Class A and B tires are those that guarantee the best performance in terms of safety and sustainability. Why?
Mounting this type of tire allows for greater road holding and reduced braking distance/time by up to 30%. This means stopping the vehicle in less time and space, gaining in safety.
And now to sustainability. Studies show that if we mount a Class B tire instead of a Class E tire, we can reduce fuel consumption by up to 7%. "In Italy, approximately 40 billion liters of fuel are consumed, with an estimated cost of around 60 billion euros," explains Assogomma, an association of tire manufacturers. "If all vehicles in circulation adopted Class A or B tires, over 2 billion liters of fuel could be saved, equivalent to over 4 billion euros."
A saving not only in economic terms: reduced consumption helps avoid 7 million tons of CO2 emissions per year. But be careful with inflation pressure! "Properly inflated tires consume less gasoline or diesel because they reduce rolling resistance on the asphalt. Data indicate that for every 0.2 bar less pressure than the correct one, on average 1-2% more is spent, but with peaks that can reach 10%," confirms the Research Department of the National Consumers Union.
To conclude. No state aid, and replacing a set of tires can be a significant expense. But switching to higher energy class tires still proves to be a winning move.
