Nearly half of motorists are unaware of safety ratings introduced more than a decade ago.

New research from eBay has revealed that UK drivers remain largely ignorant of the labelling system, first introduced to improve road safety.

Out of control

According to the eBay study, almost half of motorists (47%) admitted they had no understanding of the safety information provided on EU tyre labels.

Despite being mandatory on all new tyres sold in the UK since 2012, two-thirds of drivers (66%) said they did not know what the labels were for, while 61% confessed they never checked them before making a purchase.

The labels are designed to give clear, standardised information on a tyre’s performance, covering fuel efficiency, wet grip, external noise, and suitability for snowy or icy conditions.

Yet, eBay’s research shows widespread confusion among drivers about what the icons actually mean.

On average, participants misidentified the symbols two-thirds (67%) of the time.

The snowflake-style indicator for icy conditions was the most misunderstood, with 92% of respondents getting it wrong.

The wet grip symbol—depicted by a raining cloud—proved the most familiar, with around two-thirds (67%) identifying it correctly.

The professionals

The research also found that many UK motorists are placing complete trust in garages to select tyres, rather than making informed decisions themselves.

Nearly three-quarters (74%) said they relied on garage recommendations most of the time.

More than half of drivers admitted they did little or no research at all when buying tyres—30% doing “very little” and 25% doing “none.”

Older motorists proved the least likely to research, with 36% of over-65s saying they made no effort to check information.

This lack of consumer awareness has potentially serious consequences.

Tyres are one of the most critical safety components on any vehicle, and poor quality or unsuitable tyres increase the risk of crashes.

According to official figures from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), more than two million UK drivers failed their MOT in 2023–24 due to tyre defects.

Safety experts say the lack of awareness around tyre maintenance, combined with poor understanding of tyre labels, could be contributing to these failures.

Education and awareness

Abir Tewari, UK Director of Commercial Operations, Parts & Accessories at eBay, described the findings as concerning.

“Despite existing in the UK for more than a decade, knowledge around EU tyre labels among motorists is still sparse,” he said. “It is worrying that proper knowledge could make maintaining vital vehicle parts safer and cheaper. Tyres are a crucial element of road safety, and drivers should be confident in understanding the information available to them.”

Industry experts say improving education around tyre safety could not only reduce crash risk but also save motorists money.

Choosing tyres with better fuel efficiency ratings, for example, can cut running costs, while those with stronger wet grip ratings can improve stopping distances in poor weather.

For now, however, the evidence suggests that millions of UK drivers remain in the dark—placing their trust in garages rather than the labels designed to keep them safe.