Average gas prices in California hover well over $5. Californians want to cover as many miles as they can on each gallon or charge. But there’s a hidden problem working against drivers: the tires they buy to replace the ones that come with their car are often less efficient, eating away at fuel efficiency and forcing drivers to buy more gas or charge more frequently to cover the same distance.

After 23 years, the California Energy Commission passed rules to establish a Tire Efficiency Standards Program.  This program leans into what smart drivers already know: that Tire Efficiency Standards are straightforward. As tires get more efficient, your car wastes less fuel, which means you have fewer trips to the gas or charging station, and drivers spend less on fuel.

These new standards will fix the problem – and lower costs for Californians.

The tires that come on new cars are designed to optimize gas mileage because automakers need to meet vehicle fuel economy standards. But replacement tires previously weren’t held to any fuel efficiency standard.  Consumers often purchased models that required them to refuel more frequently.

These hidden costs add up fast. California drivers paid about $1 billion annually in additional fuel costs because of these inefficient replacement tires.

Thankfully, the long-awaited standards from the Energy Commission will ensure that new replacement tires are as good as the tires that come on a new car. This will save drivers of gas-powered cars at least $180 in fuel costs over the life of a set of replacement tires—and significantly more if today’s high gas prices remain. For owners of electric cars, the standards would save money on charging and avoid the typical loss of 10-15 miles in range from yesterday's replacement tires.

Efficient tires aren't a compromise. Fuel-efficient models are already standard on new vehicles and increasing efficiency does not require reducing tire lifespan or driver safety. Real-world data and lab testing show that tires that already meet the standards today show similar lifespans as those that don’t. And the proposal includes new safety standards as well that would remove some of the least safe tires from the market.

In addition to reducing fuel costs, the standards will benefit human health and the environment. They will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by two million metric tons per year, an amount equivalent to taking about 400,000 gas-powered cars off California roads, while also cutting dangerous air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter.

The standards will take full effect in 2033, giving manufacturers several years to come into full compliance. CFA is excited to see this program being launched in California. Drivers across America deserve to have the same opportunity to save money, lower emissions, and breathe cleaner air.