California has become the first US state to mandate that replacement tyres be energy efficient. This new regulation, approved unanimously by the California Energy Commission (CEC), aims to make vehicles greener by blocking the sale of older, less efficient tyres.
State regulators anticipate the new rules will lead to reduced emissions and lower fuel costs for drivers. The first phase of the regulations is set to begin in 2029, requiring replacement tyres to be at least as energy efficient, on average, as those sold on new vehicles.
The CEC estimates these standards will save California drivers nearly $1bn annually in gasoline and electricity costs. Additionally, the commission projects a reduction of 2m metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, which is comparable to removing approximately 400,000 gasoline cars from the roads.
While environmental groups and clean-air advocates have praised the new policies, some industry groups and tyre manufacturers, including Goodyear and Yokohama, have opposed them. They have raised concerns about increased costs for replacement tyres, with one estimate suggesting an increase of $6 to $10 per tyre.
However, the CEC argues that the incremental cost increases for consumers will be lower, at $1.50 per tyre in phase one and $6.50 per tyre in phase two. The commission also states that a typical gasoline car with more efficient tyres could save $179 on gasoline over the life of the tyres, which is roughly seven times the incremental costs.