When drivers shop for replacement tires, efficiency is not normally a priority for many. That may soon change: California announced Aug. 17 that it will implement the nation’s first energy-efficiency standards for replacement tires.
Traditionally, tires that come on new cars are designed to provide better fuel mileage. When it is time to replace them, however, consumers may choose less-efficient tires, resulting in lost mileage and range — and more frequent trips to the pump, according to the California Energy Commission.
The commission says the program could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 2 million metric tons and potentially save California drivers nearly $1 billion per year in gasoline and electricity costs.
When the New Tire Standards Take Effect
The California Energy Commission has worked with tire manufacturers, industry groups and researchers since 2020 to develop the standards. The rules are expected to take effect in two phases.
The first phase begins in 2028 and will limit which replacement tires can be sold in California. Tires manufactured on or after Jan. 1, 2028, must meet new efficiency standards for passenger cars and light-duty trucks.
The second phase begins Jan. 1, 2033, with stricter standards.
“This action will help Californians save approximately $1 billion a year on refueling while reducing pollution and extending the range of vehicles on the road,” David Hochschild, chair of the California Energy Commission, said in a statement.
Why Some Tire Makers Object
Not all industry stakeholders support the regulations. Comments submitted during the commission’s rulemaking process show that some tire manufacturers and trade groups worry the standards could raise upfront costs, reduce the number of tire models available and create challenges for companies that make specialty or performance-focused products.
Pirelli Group, which represents Pirelli Tire, asked the commission in August to delay the regulation’s implementation. The group said the standards should remain within the “realm of possibility in terms of achievable rolling resistance.”
Pirelli also called the phase 2 threshold and deadline “disproportionately stringent compared to other regulations worldwide” and said the proposal did not take a holistic approach to tire performance.
Some companies that support the regulation also raised concerns about the phase 2 deadline. Discount Tires told the commission that applying the later requirements to tires sold today could remove roughly 70% of current options from the market.
“Tires are a non-discretionary purchase — drivers cannot opt out,” the company said in its comments. “If highly efficient tires carry significant price premiums or meaningfully narrow the available selection, the burden will fall disproportionately on cost-sensitive consumers.”
How California Will Measure Efficiency
The state’s announcement did not provide a specific definition or example of what California will consider an efficient tire. Documents released in June offer some insight into the program’s approach.
The commission will measure a tire’s efficiency by its rolling resistance — the amount of power a tire wastes as it travels and generates heat on the road. As a tire rolls, it flexes against the road, deforming and rebounding. That process generates heat using some of the energy that would otherwise keep the vehicle moving.
The lower the rolling resistance coefficient, the more energy-efficient the state considers the tire. Lower-rolling-resistance tires commonly come standard on new vehicles because they help automakers achieve better fuel economy and range.
Starting in 2028, manufacturers are expected to meet a maximum rolling-resistance coefficient of 9. By 2033, the state expects that score to drop to 7.1, according to a commission presentation.
What the Rules Could Mean for Drivers
As manufacturers release tires that meet the standards, consumers could see the average cost of a new set increase. Starting in 2033, the commission estimates that the cost could rise by $24 per set, but it expects the increase to be offset by about $179 in savings from using more efficient tires.
The commission says some tires currently sold already meet the standards and does not expect availability to suffer because manufacturers have years to adjust their designs.
The new requirements apply to ordinary passenger-vehicle and light-duty-truck replacement tires. The commission listed these exemptions:
- Space-saver tires
- Competition tires designed for motorsports
- Winter-type snow tires
- All-season winter-performance tires
- Used and retreaded tires
- Deep-tread tires
- Tires designed for ATVs and other off-road vehicles
- Large off-road tires for use up to 99 mph
- Motorcycle tires
- Temporary-use spare tires
- Small tires with a nominal rim diameter of 13 inches or less
- Limited-production tires made at a rate of fewer than 15,000 per year
- Tires sold for use on an emergency vehicle
- High-load-index tires of 122 or greater
- Tires not capable of sustaining speeds over 50 mph
Noe Padilla is a Northern California reporter for USA TODAY. Contact him at [email protected], follow him on X at @1NoePadilla or on Bluesky at @noepadilla.bsky.social. Sign up for the TODAY Californian newsletter or follow TODAY Californian on Facebook.
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