On Monday, the state of California announcedit is officially moving forward with its Replacement Tire Efficiency Program. This California Energy Commission program will be the country’s first set of regulations concerning what replacement tires are available in the aftermarket to purchase.
We’vereported on the Replacement Tire Efficiency Programin the months leading up to its approval. The rules that were initially proposedwent through a set of revisions after a public comment period; these revisions were key ones, which carved out space for more specialty tires to be allowed for sale. Notably for enthusiasts, it included exemptions for high-performance competition tires, while other exemptions allow for off-road tires, all-season winter performance tires, and others.
The program received a mix of support and opposition throughout its public comment period. Companies like Michelin and Bridgestone supported the program while stressing the need to balance safety with efficiency improvements; fellow tire manufacturer Dunlop issued a measured statement after the program was greenlit, saying “California should evaluate the complete consequences of replacement tire requirements” and urging the state to continue working with tiremakers, consumers, and the auto industry to create environmental improvement “without creating material adverse impacts on consumers, consumer choice, competition, or trade.”
At odds until the very end, however, was the Specialty Equipment Market Association, better known as SEMA. Citing “unresolved concerns about tire affordability, consumer choice and the impact on small businesses,” SEMA writes that it continues to oppose the regulation. That said, SEMA also recognized that the final proposal “is significantly improved from where the rulemaking began.”
These new standards received unanimous approval by CEC commissioners, and regulators believe it will cumulatively save California drivers nearly $1 billion and reduce CO2 emissions by 2 million metric tons per year once implemented. The first phase of regulations is set to start in 2029, with a stricter set of regulations scheduled to begin from 2033 onward.