Consumer and environmental advocacy organizations applauded draft standards which would ensure that replacement tires are similarly efficient as those on new cars. These standards, if approved, will help reduce fueling costs and protect air quality.

Last month several consumer and environmental groups signaled their support for CEC’s effort. 

These proposed standards come at a time when many replacement tires on the market are less efficient than those sold with new vehicles. Drivers buy replacement tires expecting the same level of performance only to find that they can end up with less fuel-efficient replacements. Once approved and fully implemented these proposed standards could save drivers nearly $200 in gasoline costs over the lifetime of a set of replacement tires, according to an independent analysis by Evergreen Economics prepared for the California
Energy Commission (CEC). This same study projects that California drivers will save nearly $1 billion annually in fuel costs from this rule.

“With a worsening affordability crisis, we strongly support this common-sense rule, which delivers cost savings, improves efficiency, and promotes a healthier environment for consumers,” said Robert Herrell, Executive Director for the Consumer Federation of California.

“Efficient tires are a cost-effective way to deliver important fuel savings for consumers, which is why most automakers install them from the factory,” said Chris Harto, Manager, Sustainability Advocacy at Consumer Reports. “This rule will ensure those savings carry over into the replacement tires market—without sacrificing safety and tire life.”

“People expect a replacement set of tires to be as good or better than their old tires. This rule is a commonsense measure to reduce the lifetime cost to fuel vehicles while protecting air quality and reducing fine particulate matter from regular tire wear,” said Karim D. Marshall, Director of Climate and Energy Policy at the Consumer Federation of America. “This rule is an important step towards consumers having more information and control over their purchasing decisions.”

“This is a big win for Californians. Tire standards offer a simple way to improve affordability, sustainability, and air quality for Californians,” said Dan Jacobson, Senior Advisor to Environment California.

“While the federal government attacks the clean air and efficiency standards that protect our health and our wallets, California must keep moving forward,” said Beth Hammon, Senior Advocate at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). “This rule does exactly that — saving drivers nearly $1 billion a year in fuel costs, cutting emissions equivalent to taking 400,000 gas-powered cars off the road, and reducing the pollution that threatens our health and climate.”

“Tire standards are a straightforward solution to make everyday life more affordable and sustainable for California drivers,” said Bill Magavern, Policy Director for the Coalition for Clean Air.

“Consumers are purchasing replacement tires that leave them buying more fuel to travel the same distance,” said Brian Fadie, State Policy Manager with the Appliance Standards Awareness Project. “These standards will lower costs by ensuring that replacement tires are as efficient as the ones on new cars.”