E-mark: circled E with a number (E4 022439)

The tyre type was approved under a UN regulation: the number after the circled E is the country that granted the approval (4 = the Netherlands, 11 = the United Kingdom), the longer number is the approval number, and its first two digits are the regulation’s series of amendments (02).

What to do with it

Nothing to act on: it tells you the tyre was type-approved for markets that accept UN approvals. If you need to trace the approval, the country and number identify it.

What it looks like: A capital E inside a circle with a number after it (E4, E11), and next to it a longer approval number such as 022439 — sometimes followed by S2, W or R2.
Set by: UN Regulation No. 30, paragraphs 5.2, 5.4 and its footnote (country numbers), Annex II; UN Regulation No. 117, paragraphs 5.3.2 and 5.4.3, Annex 2

In detail

UN R30’s own example: E4 with 022439 — approved in the Netherlands under approval number 022439, under the 02 series of amendments.
Country numbers from the regulation’s list (2008 text): 1 Germany, 2 France, 3 Italy, 4 Netherlands, 5 Sweden, 6 Belgium, 7 Hungary, 8 Czech Republic, 9 Spain, 11 United Kingdom, 12 Austria, 13 Luxembourg, 14 Switzerland, 16 Norway, 17 Finland, 18 Denmark, 19 Romania, 20 Poland, 21 Portugal, 22 Russian Federation, 23 Greece, 24 Ireland, 43 Japan, 51 Republic of Korea, 52 Malaysia, 53 Thailand. Later accessions got later numbers.
Suffixes after the approval number come from UN R117: S1 or S2 for rolling sound at stage 1 or 2, W for wet adhesion, R1 or R2 for rolling resistance. E4 0212345 S2 is its example.
Where the number is, the regulation says: close to the circle, above, below, left or right of the E.

What it does not mean

The country number is not where the tyre was made — it is the country whose authority approved the type. The E-mark is not a quality grade.

Markings that go with it

DOT tire identification number (DOT EJ7 LN4R 2319)The letters DOT followed by groups of letters and digits, 13…DOT date code (the last 4 digits, e.g. 2319)Four digits at the very end of the code that starts DOT, often in…

Sources

Each document was fetched and read on the date shown; the clause is the one that sets this marking.

UNECE, as published in the Official Journal of the EU: UN Regulation No. 30 — Uniform provisions concerning the approval of pneumatic tyres for motor vehicles and their trailers, Revision 3 (OJ L 201, 30.7.2008) — paragraphs 5.2, 5.4 and its footnote (country numbers), Annex II: The approval mark consists of “A circle surrounding the letter ‘E’ followed by the distinguishing number of the country which has granted approval” and “An approval number”; the example “has been approved in the Netherlands (E 4) under approval number 022439”. Checked 2026-09-28.
UNECE, as published in the Official Journal of the EU: UN Regulation No. 117 — Uniform provisions concerning the approval of tyres with regard to rolling sound emissions and/or to adhesion on wet surfaces and/or to rolling resistance (OJ L 218, 12.8.2016) — paragraphs 5.3.2 and 5.4.3, Annex 2: Suffixes “S1 Sound level at stage 1, S2 Sound level at stage 2, W Wet adhesion level, R1 … R2 Rolling resistance level” are placed to the right of or below the approval number. Checked 2026-09-28.