California regulators are putting the brakes on your next trip to the tire shop.
The California Energy Commission unanimously approved new rules Monday that will phase out the sale of replacement tires that don’t meet the state’s energy-efficiency standards — potentially wiping out a huge chunk of the tires currently available to California drivers.
“This ultimately is about protecting consumers,” said David Hochschild, the chairman of the California Energy Commission. “I see this as sheltering the public from higher costs in the long run.”
The rules target a tire’s “rolling resistance” — how much energy it takes to keep a tire moving down the road. Lower resistance means cars use less gas or electricity.
The first phase begins in 2029, when replacement tires will have to meet a maximum rolling-resistance level of 9.1 newtons per kilonewton. That threshold drops to 7.2 in 2033.
The commission tested 537 types of tires to develop the standards.
Officials say the rules will make replacement tires at least as energy-efficient, on average, as the tires originally installed on new cars and trucks. The CEC estimates drivers could save $79 in gas or electricity costs within four months under the first phase and about $153 within seven months under the second.
“These regulations are a tool within our authority that can save money for every Californian,” said Commissioner Nancy Skinner.
But tire manufacturers aren’t sold.
Goodyear’s Bret Gladfelty told the commission the rules could drive up costs and said technical and legal questions remain unresolved.
While the commission estimates phase-two rules would add an average of about $6.50 per tire, Gladfelty warned that actual increases could reach several hundred dollars.
He also told KCRA that the rules could eliminate an estimated 70% of the tires currently sold in California by 2033.
Bridgestone and Michelin also raised concerns that the rules could create an uneven playing field and hurt larger manufacturers depending on how the regulations are enforced.
Commission staff said they will test tires in a laboratory to verify manufacturers’ information and conduct checks with retailers.
Environmental groups backed the regulations, pointing to improved air quality and other environmental benefits.
The new rules stem from a 2003 state law, AB 844, requiring the commission to set tire-efficiency standards. California is the first state in the nation to adopt such rules.
