There are many factors to consider when choosing tyres. This guide will help you understand the basic technical specifications and select a tyre based on the factors you consider important.
Tyres are broadly categorised by season into winter and summer types. They differ primarily in tread depth, with summer tyres having a minimum depth of 1.6 mm, whilst winter tyres have a minimum depth of 4 mm. Another difference is the target temperature for optimal performance; it is generally stated that winter tyres are suitable for temperatures below 7°C. For more extreme conditions, Nordic tyres are also available on the market.
If winter tyres have met the test requirements, since November 2012 they have been marked with an image of a mountain with three peaks and a snowflake inside, accompanied by the label 3PMSF (Three-Peak Mountain SnowFlake). This marking is intended to provide a guarantee of quality, but it is not mandatory. We may also come across the M+S (Mud and Snow) marking; this is an older type of marking which is no longer in use and is not subject to the aforementioned testing criteria.
Energy labels define three further categories of tyre types. This labelling has been mandatory since 2012 and must be displayed on every tyre.
Tyres are divided into categories that allow us to determine their fuel efficiency (based on rolling resistance).
The most fuel-efficient category is category A, and the least fuel-efficient is category G. Fuel consumption increases between categories; for example, between categories B and F, it increases by 0.41 litres per 100 km, which can represent a saving of up to 6,765 Kč over 50,000 kilometres. The differences are further illustrated in the figure and table.
| Estimated fuel savings in CZK by category | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel price: 33 Kč/l | 50,000 km | |||||
| - | A | B | C | E | F | G |
| A | - | 1,650 CZK | 3,630 CZK | 5,940 CZK | 8,415 CZK | 10,890 Kč |
| B | - | - | 1,980 CZK | 4,290 CZK | 6,765 CZK | 9,240 CZK |
| C | - | - | - | 2,310 CZK | 4,785 CZK | 7,260 CZK |
| E | - | - | - | - | 2,475 CZK | 4,950 CZK |
| F | - | - | - | - | - | 2,475 CZK |
| G | - | - | - | - | - | - |
The wet grip rating primarily indicates the safety of the selected tyres in terms of the difference in braking distance on a wet road surface. Grip is usually rated on a scale from A to G, with A being the best and G the worst.
Tyre noise levels are divided into three categories in decibels, ranging from the quietest (category 1) to the loudest (category 3). Category 2 complies with the current EU limit.
You can find the dimensions suitable for your car on the back of your vehicle registration certificate. They are listed on lines 20 and 21 and, where applicable, in the ‘Additional entries’ section.
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