It will soon be official: from November 2012, tires will have to be marked with a label. The EU is thus pursuing the goal of increasing road safety. The label contains information on rolling resistance, wet grip and rolling noise. With a color gradation from green to red, the customer can better assess the quality and performance of the product. The expert organization KÜS and the trade magazine "kfz-betrieb" took this as an opportunity to conduct a survey on tire purchases.
The Trend-Tacho survey revealed that tire quality is the most important purchase criterion for almost all respondents. This is why almost 40 percent of drivers want to buy their next tires from specialist tire dealers. The study took a close look at the purchasing habits, preferred shopping locations, tire types and brands of tire buyers. The level of awareness of tire brands and chains was also examined. 37 percent of buyers prefer a premium brand such as Continental, Michelin, Pirelli and Goodyear when buying tires. In contrast, just under a third would opt for a "good quality secondary brand". In addition to quality, price is a decisive purchasing criterion for many (80 percent).
Around 80 percent want to change their wheels or tires for the next winter season. 27 percent of those surveyed take the conversion from summer to winter tires into their own hands. Just as many drive to an authorized garage of the relevant brand to change their wheels and tires. How and whether the new label will influence the purchasing decisions of tire buyers and what impact it will have on car dealerships remains to be seen. Peter Schuler, Federal Managing Director of KÜS, emphasizes: "There is a lot going on in the tire scene. No matter where the journey takes us: tires are the only contact between the vehicle and the road and require the utmost care in the best interests of road users."
"kfz-betrieb" is the most widely read trade magazine in the automotive industry and has been informing the automotive trade and service sector for 100 years. "kfz-betrieb" is the official organ of the German Motor Trade (ZDK), the professional lobby for around 38,000 car dealerships and workshops. Daily news from the entire automotive industry is available at www.kfz-betrieb.de and in the daily newsletter. The parent company Vogel Business Media is one of the leading German providers of specialist information with around 100 trade journals and 60 websites as well as numerous international activities. Its headquarters are in Würzburg. The company celebrates its 120th anniversary in 2011.
