When tyre labeling was introduced in 2012 we, as a company and individually fully embraced it’s intentions and the significance it could have within the tyre industry. In other words, we thought it was a cracking idea!
For decades the British tyre buying public had no gauge as to what was different between one tyre and another??? They were, to coin a long over used phrase, “round and black’. The other being “it’s only flat at the bottom”, but I will save that for another post!
We were quite involved with a large tyre manufacturer at the time of the labels launch, they were massively promoting it as a game changer, which it could quite rightly be. They produced some very innovative tyres with fantastic ‘A’ rated label results. They were lighter, grippier, more aerodynamic, in short, ‘potential game changers’!!!
We got onboard with the concept, our goal has always been to sell safe tyres so, to be behind a brand that has a great range of tyres with ‘A’ ratings for wet braking (I have always wanted to be able to stop when I needed, particularly when it’s raining!) was a real bonus!! There was also talk of AA rated tyres, a conundrum for me as, how can you have a tyre that grips and also one that rolls freely and uses less fuel??? (I have still to have had that explained).
Anyway, we sold bucket loads of these but then noticed that people were returning sooner than we would have expected to have them replaced? It seemed, that in their eagerness to produce tyres to meet or, surpass the golden ‘A’, that less thought had been put into the mileage and longevity that the tyre would have! This was not just for this one manufacturer but for most of the premium brands, it seemed, from our point of view that they had forgotten that the end user, our customers, not only needed safe, fuel efficient tyres but that they also wanted value for their hard earned money!
Things have moved on since those initial days. There have been quite radical changes, more than one incarnation of particular patterns that now offer you the same levels of grip and efficiency but also, mileage!!!
The tyre industry is evolving at a pace currently, more than it has done in decades, the advent of the hybrid and full electric cars has seen even more change. Tyres on standard, family cars now need to be able to cope with the incredible torque that an electric vehicle can produce, plus the extra weight that these vehicles carry in the form of batteries.
We are not Luddites, we embrace change but not for changes sake. A number of the tyrZ team have been around for a long time and have seen many ‘innovations’ come and go and then come again as ‘the next new thing’ (don’t get us started on tyre seal). The tyre label is a great thing for the consumer but only tells half the story and not always ‘factually’ we believe in the case of some of the really budget brands.
We will always try and sell you the best tyre based on your needs rather than on the best label. We will always steer you towards a brand that offers safety and good value. This may not be the cheapest but it will not always be the most expensive. It will be one based on our experience not one that will fill ours or our technicians coffers.