California’s New Tyre Standard: Stricter Than Europe’s
California’s Energy Commission has unanimously approved the first US efficiency standard for replacement tyres, setting a rolling resistance ceiling that starts at around 9 newtons per kilonewton in 2029 and tightens to approximately 7 in 2033. This makes California stricter than Europe, which enforces a looser ceiling of 10.5 newtons per kilonewton under UN Regulation 117 since 2012.
The State’s Decision:
California has determined how much waste a tyre is allowed to generate, with the commission’s analysis suggesting that 82% to 91% of current replacement tyres would fail the stricter threshold.
Industry Impact:
Tyre manufacturers estimate that compliant tyres will cost between $6 to $10 more each, while California’s analysis projects a modest increase of $1.50 in the first phase and $6.50 after that.
European Comparison:
Europe has been labelling tyres for efficiency since 2012, providing consumers with information on rolling resistance, wet grip, and noise, all displayed prominently next to the price. In contrast, no similar labelling system has been adopted in the United States.
Exemptions:
The new standard makes exemptions for competition tyres, large off-road tyres, all-weather winter tyres, long-life, ultra-high-performance, and low-load-index products, reflecting the complex interplay between rolling resistance, wet grip, tread life, and abrasion.
Global Regulatory Efforts:
Europe is also advancing in tyre regulation with Euro 7, introducing limits on tyre abrasion, the primary source of microplastic pollution from tyres.
An Unexpected Discovery:
Notably, Commission Chair David Hochschild expressed surprise at the existence of the regulation, having been unaware of it until Commissioner Nancy Skinner raised it—23 years after it was initially proposed in Assembly Bill 844 in 2003.