California regulators have unanimously approved rules that will restrict which replacement tires drivers may buy, placing another everyday consumer decision under Sacramento supervision.
The California Energy Commission says the mandate will reduce fuel and electricity use, while tire makers warn that shoppers could face higher prices and sharply reduced choices.
The rules will phase out replacement tires that fail state energy efficiency standards, beginning in 2029 and becoming stricter in 2033.
Both commission staff and manufacturers acknowledge that a significant share of products now sold in California will no longer qualify.
Commission Chairman David Hochschild framed the regulations as a financial benefit rather than another government restriction.
“This ultimately is about protecting consumers,” Hochschild said.
“I see this as sheltering the public from higher costs in the long run.”
The central issue is rolling resistance, which measures how much energy a tire uses while moving along the road.
Tires with lower resistance can reduce gasoline or electricity consumption, although consumers may have fewer affordable options when replacement time arrives.
New vehicles generally arrive with efficient tires, but drivers often replace them with models that have higher rolling resistance.
California regulators now intend to close that gap by forcing replacement tires to meet standards closer to those installed on vehicles when originally sold.
The first phase begins in 2029 and permits tires with rolling resistance no higher than 9.1 newtons per kilonewton.
The second phase begins in 2033 and lowers that limit to 7.2 newtons per kilonewton.
The commission developed its standards after testing 537 types of tires.
Officials claim Californians could recover added costs through energy savings, estimating savings of $79 within four months during the first phase and roughly $153 within seven months during the second phase.
Commissioner Nancy Skinner presented the mandate as a direct benefit for drivers facing California’s already punishing cost of living.
“These regulations are a tool within our authority that can save money for every Californian,” Skinner said.
Tire manufacturers are not nearly as confident in Sacramento’s math. Bret Gladfelty, speaking for Goodyear, told commissioners that the rule could raise consumer costs and argued that technical and legal questions remain unresolved.
In a letter to the commission, Gladfelty challenged its public estimates for tire prices.
While regulators project an average increase of about $6.50 per tire during the second phase, he warned that some consumers could see costs rise by several hundred dollars.
Gladfelty also told KCRA 3 that the rule could eliminate an estimated 70 percent of tires currently sold in California by 2033.
That is not exactly a minor adjustment for drivers trying to balance safety, performance, availability, and price.
Bridgestone and Michelin raised concerns about enforcement and the possibility of an uneven marketplace.
Larger manufacturers could face greater scrutiny and compliance burdens while smaller sellers or outside competitors might escape equivalent treatment, depending on how California carries out inspections.
Commission staff said a testing laboratory will examine tires and verify information submitted by manufacturers.
State officials also plan to check with retailers, adding another layer of government oversight to a market that California has never previously regulated.
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Environmental groups supported the rules, citing potential improvements in air quality and other environmental benefits.
The commission says exemptions will cover tires designed for ATVs and other off road vehicles, tires with a nominal rim diameter of 13 inches or less, and tires unable to sustain speeds above 50 miles per hour.
The action traces back to AB 844, legislation approved in 2003 directing the commission to explore tire efficiency standards.
Hochschild acknowledged he was unaware of the law until Skinner, a prominent environmental advocate and former state senator, brought it to his attention.
Skinner did not directly answer when asked whether she drove the revived rulemaking effort, instead describing it as a joint project among commissioners.
“If I had been on the commission 20 years ago, maybe it wouldn’t have taken so long,” she said, adding that “there may not have been those cost pressures.”
California is now the first state to regulate replacement tires through such efficiency requirements.
Vice Chairman Siva Gunda called the approach cooperative, saying, “This is a partnership,” while promising continued conversations with an industry preparing for another expensive Sacramento experiment.
