Delticom: New Tyre Label DEX Supports Consumers

HANOVER, Germany, September 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Europe's leading online tyre retailer Delticom has conducted a European survey, in which it asked customers in 15 countries to evaluate consumer views of the new EU tyre labelling requirements. The results of this questionnaire have been used to develop a new and inventive Delticom Efficiency Class Index (DEX). It will provide motorists with a simple, valuable and decision making reference to help decide which the best replacement tyre for their vehicle is.

The DEX has been developed on the basis of a Europe-wide survey in which Delticom asked customers to evaluate the three tyre labelling criteria - rolling resistance (fuel efficiency), wet grip and external rolling noise - in terms of relevance to their own tyre purchases. The survey generated a considerable degree of interest amongst car drivers, and more than 40,000 Delticom online shop customers were keen to give their opinion.

The view adopted by consumers is that safety is more important than the potential to make cost savings. This was reflected in the fact that more half of respondents considered wet grip to be the most vital of the tyre properties provided for in the EU label. Rolling resistance came second with over 25 percent, and rolling noise was accorded the lowest level of significance on the survey scale.

"We welcome the introduction of the EU tyre label. It is a useful instrument which provides purchasers with tried and tested information", comments Delticom's CEO Rainer Binder. "As Europe's leading online tyre retailer, however, we have a commitment to provide active assistance in areas where consumers are unsure with regard to the EU label. For this reason, our online shops provide additional and convenient guidance for customers in the form of the DEX classification. This offers an immediate opportunity to compare just about any type of tyre in accordance both with the DEX and individual label criteria."

The Delticom online shops display the DEX via an evaluation system featuring between one and five stars. Purchasers also have the option of selecting their tyres via the DEX search function. This enables them to identify at a glance which of the new EU label criteria best meets their own requirements.

Rainer Binder in regard to winter tyres: "The EU tyre label does not include any evaluation of tyre handling characteristics on ice and snow. We therefore recommend that our customers should continue to refer to test reports drawn up by established motoring organisations when purchasing winter tyres. Our neutral tyre testing site tyretest.com also provides these reports."

* The survey related to summer and all season tyres only.

More information: http://www.delti.com

Contact:
Susanne Kindor-d'Unienville
Delticom AG
T: +49-511-93634852
kindor@delti.com
http://www.delti.com