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California Just Made It Harder To Buy Cheap Tires, and Drivers Have Questions
Yahoo Autos • • business
Key Points:
- California Energy Commission unanimously approved a pioneering rule to phase out replacement tires that don't meet new rolling resistance standards, aiming to improve energy efficiency and save drivers money on fuel or electricity costs.
- The regulation will roll out in two phases, starting in 2029 with a rolling resistance cap of 9.1, tightening to 7.2 by 2033, effectively eliminating about 70% of current tire options in the state.
- Tire manufacturers like Goodyear, Bridgestone, and Michelin have raised concerns about increased consumer costs, enforcement challenges, and potential market disadvantages for smaller companies.
- The rule exempts certain tire categories such as snow tires, motorcycle tires, and motorsport competition tires, and stems from a 2003 state law directing the commission to study tire efficiency.
- Public reaction has been mixed, with some expressing safety and cost concerns while others respond with humor; California’s approach may influence similar regulations in other states.
