New Delhi: India has now introduced Star Ratings to distinguish quality of tyres.

The union minister for road transport and highways, Nitin Gadkari, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, on Thrusday, said the star rating will be on the rolling resistance, wet grip and rolling sound emission quality of tyres.

The higher rating for rolling resistance indicates better fuel saving while higher wet grip ratings indicate solid braking capability of the tyre; a lower noise level connotes a more comfortable drive.

These mandatory norms for rolling resistance, wet grip and rolling sound emissions proposed by the ministry of road transport and highways will pave the way for “star rating” or “labeling” of tyres in the country.

The ministry of road transport and highway has notified GSR 331(E) dated 17th May 2021 to amend rule 95 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989, which proposes that the tyres categorised under classes C1, C2 and C3, as defined in AIS 142:2019, shall meet the requirements of rolling resistance, wet grip and rolling sound emissions, specified in Stage 2 of AIS 142:2019, as amended from time to time, till such time the corresponding BIS specifications are notified under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986. Comments and objections have been solicited from concerned stakeholders.