Tyre labelling to reduce external noise emissions. Gdańsk Tech as the leader of the ECOLABEL project | Gdańsk University of Technology

ECOLABEL – ‘Environmentally friendly and consumer-oriented tyre labelling advancement for better energy efficiency and lower external noise’ is a project run under the 2nd edition of the Swiss-Polish Cooperation Programme for 2024–2029. The consortium is composed of the Gdańsk University of Technology, Grolimund + Partner AG (Switzerland) and EKKOM Sp. z o.o. (Poland).

Tyre labelling in the EU

Tyre labelling in the European Union was introduced in 2012 to help consumers make informed purchase decisions when replacing their tyres by providing clear information on tyre performance in three parameters: fuel/energy efficiency, wet grip and external rolling noise.

Since 2021, the labelling requirement has been extended to bus and truck tyres. The new regulation has also introduced the option to indicate whether tyres are suitable for use in severe snow conditions (snow grip symbol – a snowflake against a mountain background) and in extreme weather conditions (ice grip symbol – an iceberg).

In need of changes

After more than a decade of tyre labelling, it is increasingly being pointed out that current measurement methods do not reflect real-world driving conditions. The applicable procedures are based on tests carried out in a strictly controlled environment.

“External tyre noise is measured on special test tracks with a very quiet, standardised surface, which is virtually non-existent on public roads. Rolling resistance, on the other hand, is tested in laboratories, where the tyre rolls on a smooth steel drum. In reality, however, a car travels on a road surface, most often asphalt or concrete,” emphasised Piotr Mioduszewski, PhD, DSc, Eng., Gdańsk Tech Professor and the ECOLABEL project manager.

“Furthermore, tests are carried out at temperatures of 20°C (noise) and 25°C (rolling resistance), which do not reflect the climatic conditions in Europe, where the average annual air temperature is around 9°C. Moreover, winter tyres (!) are tested at these temperatures. The results are also affected by differences in the measuring equipment used by tyre manufacturers, the test vehicles used, and the tyres selected for testing. As a result, numerous studies show that the values provided on the labels can differ significantly from those obtained in real-world driving conditions,” he added.

As part of the project, a new methodology will be developed to transfer all labelling-related tests to laboratories, where tyres will be tested on a drum fitted with a precisely defined replica of a reference road surface. We aim to reach Technology Readiness Level 7 (TRL 7 – demonstration of a system prototype in an operational environment), starting the project at TRL 2 – formulation of the technology concept or its future application.

“We believe that the introduction of the new tyre labelling and classification methodology will bring benefits in the form of reduced testing costs (by over 20%), shorter certification times (by over 30%) and increased consumer interest in eco-labelled tyres (over 15% within two years of market launch),” noted Prof. Mioduszewski.

Safety and balance

The project will contribute to safer and more sustainable mobility by enabling consumers to make more informed decisions. “Through improved labelling and greater transparency of environmental parameters, the project supports climate goals and promotes a shift towards greener consumption. In the longer term, the social benefits will include reduced road traffic noise, lower greenhouse gas emissions, improved air quality in cities and a stronger circular economy,” added the project manager.

Project implementation plan

The project implementation plan will be divided into four stages:

• Stage 1: Identifying the most common road surface in Europe and creating a 3D model of it, which will serve as the basis for replicas and a publicly available methodology for their production.
• Stage 2: Measuring noise and rolling resistance on real-world road surfaces (Poland, Switzerland) and on laboratory replicas of these surfaces.
• Stage 3: Producing three variants of the reference surface replica and validation of the new methodology through road and laboratory tests.
• Stage 4: A cost-benefit analysis of the new methodology compared with the current one, and an assessment of its environmental impact.

Work on the project will continue until 31 December 2028.

The project’s kick-off seminar will take place on 12 May 2026 between 2.00 pm and 4.30 pm. The meeting will be held in a hybrid format in Aarau (Switzerland) and online. The programme includes a presentation of findings from the previous STEER and ELANORE projects. The next part of the meeting will focus on rolling resistance, energy efficiency and tyre noise. Participants will also become acquainted with the objectives and implementation methods of the ECOLABEL project.