California Becomes First State to Adopt Tire Efficiency Standards

The California Energy Commission voted unanimously on August 17, 2026, to adopt the nation's first standards for replacement passenger vehicle tires, a rule designed to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by closing the efficiency gap between original equipment tires and those sold later. The decision finalizes a program mandated by state law more than 20 years ago.

Under the new regulations, replacement tires sold in California will have to meet efficiency standards phased in over the next seven years. Beginning in 2029, tires must not exceed a rolling resistance limit of 9.1 newtons per kilonewton. That threshold tightens further in 2033 to 7.2 newtons per kilonewton, a level comparable to the average new car tire. Rolling resistance measures the energy lost as a tire rolls, directly impacting fuel economy for gasoline vehicles and range for electric vehicles.

California Energy Commission Chair David Hochschild said the rule would provide long-term cost relief for drivers. "This ultimately is about protecting consumers," he stated. "I see this as sheltering the public from higher costs in the long run." The commission estimates the standards will save...