California regulators approved the nation’s first efficiency standard for replacement tires on Monday, a rule the state estimates could save drivers a significant amount in gasoline and diesel costs.
What happened: The California Energy Commission passed a standard that requires aftermarket tires for passenger cars to be as efficient as those that come on a vehicle when it is originally sold by a manufacturer.
Why it matters: The average replacement tire currently available in the California market is less efficient than a car’s original tires. That means vehicles often lose range after original tires are replaced, and pay for fuel more often.
Energy commission staff estimate the rule, which starts in 2029, will save drivers roughly $1 billion in fuel costs each year and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2 million metric tons, the equivalent of taking 400,000 gas-powered cars off the road.
