The new EU Tire Label

From November 2012, a standard label for vehicle tyres will be mandatory throughout Europe: based on three criteria, the EU tyre label provides information on the environmental and safety characteristics of a tyre with the aim of increasing road safety and reducing pollution.

How to read the label?

Safety

Secure grip in wet conditions is crucial for safe driving. Performance is graded into classes, A to G (although D and G are not currently used). The stopping distance between a class A tyre and a class F tyre can be as much as 18 metres.

Fuel efficiency

Reduced rolling resistance saves fuel and cuts CO2 emissions. Class A tyres deliver the best fuel efficiency, with each subsequent class through to G increasing fuel consumption by between 0.42 and 0.56 mpg for a car which does 36 mpg.

Noise

This is the external noise made by the tire and is measured in decibels.
The more filled bars shown on the label, the louder the tires.

Further information:

Flyer European Tyre Labelling Regulation (pdf)

wikipedia.org: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tire_label