California Enacts Nation's First Efficiency Standard for Replacement Passenger Vehicle Tires

On August 20, the California Energy Commission unanimously adopted the United States’ first energy efficiency standard for replacement tires on passenger vehicles. The standard applies to approximately 36.19 million vehicles in California and will be implemented in two phases: - Phase 1 (2029–2033) sets a rolling resistance limit of 9.0 N/kN, adding $1.50 per tire to costs. - Phase 2 (starting in 2033) lowers the limit to 7.2 N/kN, increasing costs by $6.50 per tire. The new regulation is expected to save California drivers nearly $1 billion annually in fuel and electricity expenses, reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2 million metric tons—equivalent to taking about 400,000 gasoline-powered cars off the road—and cut gasoline demand by 141 million gallons and electricity demand by 0.9 terawatt-hours each year. Over a typical four-year tire lifespan, drivers of gasoline-powered vehicles can expect to save approximately $179 in fuel costs.