California drivers may eventually pay a little more for new tires, but the state says they'll make it back at the gas pump. The California Energy Commission on Monday approved the nation's first efficiency standard for replacement car tires, aimed at cutting both fuel use and emissions by limiting "rolling resistance," or how much tires deform as they move, per the New York Times. By 2033, replacement tires sold in the state must, on average, be as efficient as the tires that come on new cars; the rule starts phasing in by 2029.
Only about 30% of tires on the market already meet that target, a state energy commissioner noted. Industry groups, including the US Tire Manufacturers Association and Goodyear, argue that the regulation is rushed, hard to enforce, and likely to drive up costs and invite a flood of cheap, noncompliant imports and used tires. The state estimates a typical driver will pay around $26 more for a pair of tires but save about $179 in fuel over the tires' life—a net gain of $153.
Overall, regulators project $1 billion in annual savings for Californians and a cut of 2 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually—the latter of which the CEC says is equivalent to pulling 400,000 vehicles off of the state's roadways, per KXTV. Environmental advocates expect other states to follow California's lead, notes the Times. "This ultimately is about protecting consumers," says David Hochschild, the CEC chair, per KCRA. "I see this as sheltering the public from higher costs in the long run."
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