California's new tire regulation is more stringent than Europe's, which has had a standard in place since 2012.
California's Energy Commission has unanimously established the first U.S. efficiency standard for replacement tyres, setting a limit on rolling resistance starting in 2029 and further tightening it in 2033. Europe has imposed a less stringent limit since 2012 and has been labeling tyres for efficiency since that same year.
California has determined the allowable wastefulness of tyres. The Energy Commission voted unanimously on Monday to establish a cap on rolling resistance for replacement tyres from 2029, with a stricter limit to follow in 2033.
This move has been described as a first for the United States, which it is. In Europe, a ceiling for rolling resistance has been in place since 2012 under UN Regulation 117, currently set at 10.5 newtons per kilonewton for passenger car tyres.
California’s standards are more stringent than those in Europe. The initial phase sets the limit at approximately 9 newtons per kilonewton, while the second phase reduces it to around 7 newtons, making the state stricter than the market that originated the regulation.
Europe also provides information to consumers. Since 2012, every tyre sold in the EU has included a label that rates rolling resistance, wet grip, and noise, displayed alongside the price, with no similar system adopted in the U.S.
The commission has modestly estimated the cost implications. It projects an increase of $1.50 per tyre in the first phase and $6.50 in the second phase, against expected fuel savings of about $179 over the lifespan of a set and nearly $1 billion annually across the state.
Manufacturers have suggested higher costs. Goodyear and Yokohama informed the commission that tyres meeting the new standards could cost $6 to $10 more each, and those that fulfill the targets are often priced hundreds of dollars more per set.
In assessing the overall impact, California's stance is more straightforward than that of the industry. Tyre manufacturers estimate that about 70% of the current market would not meet the new standards, whereas California's regulatory analysis found that between 82% and 91% of replacement tyres would fail to comply with the second threshold.
The engineering behind these specifications supports this assessment. Rolling resistance, wet grip, and tread life often compete with each other in a compound, so tyres designed for fuel efficiency typically sacrifice performance in wet conditions or experience faster wear, leading to tyre wear pollution.
The exemptions reflect this reality. Competition tyres, large off-road tyres, and all-weather winter tyres are excluded from the regulation, with distinct categories established for long-life, ultra-high-performance, and low-load-index products.
In Europe, a different aspect of this compound is being regulated. The Euro 7 standard introduces limitations on tyre abrasion, which relates to the particles that startups are working to capture at the wheel.
Intriguingly, the authority's age is noteworthy. Assembly Bill 844 directed the commission to examine and regulate tyre efficiency back in 2003, and chair David Hochschild admitted he was unaware of the law's existence until commissioner Nancy Skinner mentioned it, 23 years later.
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California's new tire regulation is more stringent than Europe's, which has had a standard in place since 2012.
California has enacted the first efficiency standard for replacement tires in the United States. Since 2012, Europe has implemented a standard for rolling resistance, although it is a less stringent one.