(TNND) \u2014 California regulators have approved the nation\u2019s first replacement-tire efficiency standards, promising fuel savings and cleaner air. But industry officials and free-market advocates warn they could raise tire costs and limit consumer choice.<\/p>\n
“The tire market is absolutely a national product market, and California \u2013 as is often the case \u2013 is regulating, in effect, a national product market,\u201d said Marc Scribner, a senior transportation policy analyst at the Reason Foundation, a free-market think tank. \u201cAnd this will have consequences nationwide. So, I absolutely think members of Congress should be concerned about the potential negative impacts that this will have on consumers in states other than California, who had no opportunity to weigh in on these rules, … where the regulators aren\u2019t accountable to them.\u201d<\/p>\n
California regulators want aftermarket tires to be as energy-efficient as the tires that come on new vehicles.<\/p>\n
To achieve that aim, they want stricter limits on “rolling resistance” for replacement tires. Some replacement tires already meet the standards. Others do not.<\/p>\n
The California Energy Commission<\/a> said the required technology is already standard on new vehicles and found in roughly 30% of replacement tires now sold<\/a>.<\/p>\n Lower rolling resistance can reduce the fuel or electricity consumption of the vehicle. And the Commission says the new standards it approved in August will save California drivers nearly $1 billion per year in gasoline and electricity costs.<\/p>\n Regulators also say the change will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2 million metric tons per year, equivalent to taking about 400,000 gasoline-powered cars off the roads.<\/p>\n The new standards kick in over two phases and won\u2019t be fully implemented until 2033. The first phase begins in 2029.<\/p>\n The Commission estimated that a typical driver would save between $85 and $179 in fuel costs<\/a> over the life of a set of tires, depending on the phase, while the tires would carry an added cost of between $6 and $26 per set.<\/p>\n The regulators said the extra costs for consumers would be paid for with better fuel efficiency in just a few months.<\/p>\n And they carved out exceptions for certain specialty tires, such as competition tires, large off-road tires, and all-weather winter performance tires.<\/p>\n The Consumer Federation of America<\/a> supported the new standards, saying they both save consumers money and reduce their impact on the environment.<\/p>\n The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association<\/a> expressed reservations about the new rules.<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t feel that this regulation is ready for prime time,\u201d the trade group\u2019s executive vice president and general counsel told the Commission during its meeting last month.<\/p>\n The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association said it has engaged with California throughout the lengthy process toward the revised standards. But the group said in a statement Wednesday that \u201cSignificant concerns remain, including replacement tire compatibility and consistent enforcement that protects consumers and supports fair competition.\u201d<\/p>\n The group asked the California regulators to resolve those concerns before implementing the new rules.<\/p>\n Dunlop Tires North America<\/a> said it appreciates the environmental objectives behind the regulations but expressed concerns over restricting consumer choice or allowing the drive for fuel efficiency to overshadow other important aspects of tire design.<\/p>\n Tires are designed for a wide variety of vehicles and driving needs, rather than as a one-size-fits-all product, the company said. Lower rolling resistance can be important, but so are price, safety, tread life, traction, durability, and replacement frequency, Dunlop said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s going to take a big choice away from people as far as what they can buy,\u201d Gregg Boe, a tire shop owner in Fresno, California, told KMPH TV<\/a>. \u201cYou know, on the average, those types of tires are going to be more expensive. So, it limits your choice for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n Boe said the new tire regulations are like telling grocery stores they can only sell organic produce.<\/p>\n A KMPH viewer poll found 96% oppose the new regulations.<\/p>\n