California Implements Regulation Forcing Drivers To Buy More Expensive Tires

California is implementing a first-in-the-nation requirement that limits the options drivers have when it comes to buying replacement tires. Regulators say the new standards will increase fuel efficiency and save drivers money at the pump, but tire manufacturers say it will force them to buy much more expensive tires that will erase any potential savings. The California Energy Commission, CEC, voted unanimously this week to approve the Replacement Tire Efficiency Program, which the panel says will save drivers money on gas by increasing their fuel efficiency. The plan, which imposes new standards for tires’ rolling resistance — the amount of energy a vehicle needs to keep a tire rolling — will be rolled out in two phases. During the first phase, set to begin in 2029, the state will permit the sale of tires with a rolling resistance of 9.1 newtons per kilonewton (N/kN). In phase two, scheduled to begin in 2033, the standard will be lowered to 7.2 (N/kN).California regulators say that when consumers buy new cars, they usually come with more efficient tires, but that drivers later replace them with less efficient ones. The new regulations are supposed to ensure that drivers maintain the same tire efficiency as when they first buy their car. The CEC estimates that in phase one, the regulation will cost consumers an additional $1.50 per tire and that in phase two, the extra cost will increase to $6.50 per tire. While the tires will cost more, regulators say, drivers will save an average of $179 on gas over the life of the tires. However, the California Tire Dealers Association sent a letter to the CEC in April warning that the average cost of replacement tires would increase dramatically. Tires that meet the new requirements are “typically priced hundreds of dollars more per set than baseline alternatives,” the letter said, “When realistic pricing is applied, the modest fuel savings projected by the SRIA are insufficient to offset the increased upfront costs over the life of the tires.”Regulators also predict that the new standards will cut carbon dioxide emissions by 2 million metric tons per year, which they say is equivalent to taking 400,000 gas-powered vehicles off the road.The chairman of the CEC, David Hochschild, said in a statement, “We are proud to approve the nation’s first replacement tire efficiency standards. This action will help Californians save approximately $1 billion a year on refueling while reducing pollution and extending the range of vehicles on the road.”The regulations received praise from one tire manufacturer, Michelin. The director of state and local government affairs, Francesca Mosteller, said in a statement, “California’s direction is consistent with Michelin’s all-sustainable and holistic approach for reducing the impact of tires at every stage of the life cycle without compromising safety and other performances that are important to consumers.”However, other tire manufacturers, such as Goodyear and Yokohama, voiced opposition to the regulations.A former Los Angeles mayoral candidate, Spencer Pratt, also criticized the regulation, writing on X that the “cost increase isn’t an unfortunate side effect. … it’s the whole point.” He said regulators are trying to “deliberately make driving financially painful” to encourage Californians to take public transportation.

California Implements Regulation Forcing Drivers To Buy More Expensive Tires

California Implements Regulation Forcing Drivers To Buy More Expensive Tires

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