California mandates energy-efficient replacement tires, aiming to cut fuel use and emissions

The California Energy Commission approved the country’s inaugural efficiency standard for replacement automobile tires, requiring them to achieve the same low rolling resistance as new-car tires by 2033, with a 2029 interim benchmark. State officials project an upfront cost increase of about $26 per set, offset by long-term fuel savings that could net $153 per driver and cut greenhouse-gas emissions to the level of removing 400,000 vehicles from the road annually.

After years of lobbying, the rule was softened for long-life and high-wet-grip tires and includes exemptions for competition and winter tires, while still imposing minimum wet-grip standards. The compromise secured support from Bridgestone and Michelin, but Goodyear and the United States Tire Manufacturers Assn. criticized the regulation as difficult to enforce, especially for imports. Environmental and consumer groups praised the measure as a safeguard for drivers amid broader federal rollbacks of health-protective policies.