Which label indicates that a helmet meets U.S. performance standards?

The label that indicates a helmet meets U.S. performance standards is the DOT label. This stands for the Department of Transportation, which establishes safety standards for helmets sold in the United States. Helmets that bear the DOT label have undergone testing to ensure they fit specific criteria regarding impact resistance, penetration, and retention, making them safe for use while riding a motorcycle.

Other labels like ANSI (American National Standards Institute), SNELL, and ISO (International Organization for Standardization) refer to performance standards, but they do not specifically align with the U.S. regulations for motorcycle helmets. ANSI is associated with various types of safety equipment, while SNELL is known for its own rigorous standards, often regarded as exceeding DOT standards, but it is not a requirement for legal helmet use in the U.S. ISO is an international standard that does not specifically pertain to U.S. requirements for motorcycle helmets. Thus, the DOT label is the most relevant and crucial for confirming that a helmet meets U.S. performance standards.