California Mandates Energy-Efficient Replacement Tires

California becomes the first US state to set efficiency rules for replacement tires, aiming to reduce emissions and fuel costs.

California has become the first state in the US to mandate that replacement tires be energy efficient, a move aimed at reducing emissions and fuel costs. The new rules, approved by the California Energy Commission (CEC), will block the sale of older tires and make vehicles on the road greener.

The new policies have sparked a rightwing backlash, with some calling them a "massive overreach". However, environmental and clean-air advocates have praised the regulations, hoping other states will adopt similar standards.

The first phase of the regulations is set to start in 2029. The standards dictate that replacement tires be at least as energy efficient, on average, as tires sold on new vehicles. This is because new cars come with tires that have low "rolling resistance", which means they can go further per gallon of gas, while replacement tires can be used or older and waste more energy.

Industry Response

Industry groups and some tire makers have opposed the standards, raising concerns about the increased costs for replacement tires. The California Tire Dealers Association, along with Goodyear and Yokohama, argued that the cost of replacement tires would increase by roughly $6 to $10 per tire. They also raised concerns about the standards in phase two of the regulations, arguing that the tires mandated under those stricter rules are "typically priced hundreds of dollars more per set than baseline alternatives".

Enforcement and Impact

Some opponents have raised concerns that the state would struggle to enforce the regulations, allowing foreign manufacturers to import cheap tires that cut corners on safety. However, the CEC argued that the incremental cost increases for consumers would be low - $1.50 per tire in phase one and $6.50 per tire in phase two.

Background and Future Plans

California's regulations are decades in the making. State legislators passed a bill in 2003 requiring tire standards, but the state paused efforts on writing rules as it waited for the federal government to adopt similar regulations, which it did not. Magavern, policy director for the Coalition for Clean Air, said other states were interested in passing similar regulations but were waiting for California, which can have a significant impact on the market.

Comparison of Industry Positions

Quotes

• "California drivers want to save money and want to reduce harmful emissions, so I think Californians will be very pleased by having higher-quality tires on the market." - Bill Magavern, policy director for the Coalition for Clean Air
• "This will make tires more efficient, reduce emissions that cause air pollution and climate chaos … and save money for drivers who these days are faced with high fuel costs." - Bill Magavern, policy director for the Coalition for Clean Air
• "The regulation was not 'ready for primetime'." - Tracey Norberg, of the United States Tire Manufacturers Association

Source: The Guardian Climate Crisis