Eco tyres - What are they and how do they work?

With increased fuel costs affecting drivers across the UK, many are now looking to make changes that make a difference to all car-related expenses. An option that has become more popular over the last year is to fit eco-focused tyres, but do they really save money on fuel and how do they differ from standard tyres?

Why are they called eco or green tyres?

The name ‘green’ or ‘eco’ tyres have been given to this particular type of tyre as they are made from environmentally friendly rubber and materials. 

Eco tyres have been available in the UK for a number of years following the introduction of legislation from the European Union that made it mandatory for all tyres to be given an eco-rating. A tyre's eco-rating is based on three key factors that include fuel efficiency, wet grip and noise.

What are green/eco tyres?

Green/eco tyres are a type of tyre that has been produced from sustainable materials to be more environmentally friendly than standard tyres. They are commonly made from natural rubber or organic cotton to reduce the environmental impact, as these kinds of materials require less energy to create the tyre but also reduce the amount of waste produced.

As eco tyres are typically more durable and lighter than traditional tyres, many drivers that have these types of tyres fitted benefit from improved fuel efficiency due to reduced consumption.

Eco rating tyres

Both the British government and consumers are now pushing more than ever for more environmentally friendly products to in turn reduce the UK's collective carbon footprint. This initiative has been driven in the tyre industry through the introduction of the EU eco tyre rating system so that consumers can make an informed decision when purchasing new tyres for their vehicles. 

Eco ratings are given on a scale of A through to G. A being the most eco-friendly and G being the least. These labels are included on all tyres sold in the UK and also include other important information such as wet grip performance, fuel efficiency and noise output.

What are the benefits of eco tyres?

In addition to the overall environmental impact of green tyres, there are also a host of money-saving benefits for drivers. These include:

• Reduced fuel consumption through reduced rolling resistance
• Reduced noise pollution
• Increased tyre lifetime so you won’t need to replace your tyres as often
• Better grip and performance 

With government plans to introduce a tyre tax in the near future, another benefit of green/eco tyres could be that you will pay less tax on eco/green tyres.

Disadvantages of green tyres

One of the main drawbacks of eco tyres is that although they have increased in popularity they still remain more expensive than regular tyres. This can tend to put off some car owners especially if they are not as readily available to buy or they are able to find other non-green tyres that are cheaper and have similar performance and ratings.

You might also like to read: What is Green/Eco Car Insurance?