Tyre Retailers Preparing For New Labels
From November it will be mandatory for all car tyres to be sold with a label detailing the tyre’s performance in wet braking, fuel consumption and noise. It is hoped that this information will enable consumers to make better choices when purchasing their tyres. Better choices should improve drivers’ safety and be good for the environment. An added benefit should be that as consumers choose to buy better performing tyres, tyre manufacturers will be forced to up their game and improve their tyres still further.
These new tyre labelling laws are likely to have a dramatic effect on the tyre retail industry. This is more than likely the biggest change in tyre retailing over the last generation, so it is only natural for manufacturers and retailers to wonder what the effects may be. As we are still in a recession, it is even more important that retailers are able to properly prepare for this change.
Tyre retailers’ main concerns is that these changes may affect consumers buying confidence if they are confidence for a while. Tyres are often described as a distressed purchase (i.e. not generally something that you look forward to spending your money on) and it is worrying that consumers may put off buying new tyres, putting them at greater risk of accidents as their tyres will not be performing well.
The retailers will be trying to combat any potential confusion with point of sale literature available to explain the labels to consumers as well as taking a bit more time to explain things. In the long run, the extra effort should pay off, as better informed consumers make for an improved retail environment.