The California Energy Commission has unanimously approved new rules that require vehicle tires to meet a standard for “rolling resistance,” which is a measure of how much energy it takes to roll the tire. [some emphasis, links added]
The lower resistance increases gas mileage or reduces energy use, which proponents of the rule say will help transportation affordability, the New York Post reported.
However, the rule could ban 70% of the tires now available to California drivers. According to the Tire Industry Association, average tire prices could increase from $81 to $157, the [cost difference adding over $300 for four new vehicle tires].
Former Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt called the tire rules a “scam,” arguing they’re part of California regulators’ push to get people to stop driving gas-powered cars by driving up transportation costs, including costly regulations that increase gas prices.
“They deliberately make your gas prices more expensive, to compel you to stop driving. Then they use the artificially high cost of fuel to impose further regulations and higher tire costs on you. The whole communist schtick is a positive feedback loop,” Pratt said in a post on X.
Commissioner Nancy Skinner told local news outlet KCRA:
“Look at the gas prices everyone’s experiencing. If we can bring each Californian’s gas cost down just a little bit, then why wouldn’t we?”
Read more at Just The News
They note that budget all-season tires average around $81.30 per tire, whereas specialty low rolling resistance models average roughly $157.37 per tire.
this compares the lowest price available regular tire with a one of the higher priced low rolling resistance tires, which is an unfair comparison
it excludes the cost of installation
& fuel savings over the lifetime of the tire
Those figures weren’t calculated by this article. They come from the New York Post’s reporting on the Tire Industry Association’s analysis. If you believe the comparison is unfair, take it up with the TIA’s methodology. Installation costs don’t change the price differential unless one type of tire costs more to install than the other, while projected fuel savings are a separate lifetime-cost consideration.