California’s New Tire Regs Driving a Bumpy Road

The California Energy Commission has approved new rules for tires. To say the least, the reaction is “tiring” and confusing for consumers and businesses already overwhelmed by the high cost of gasoline, skyrocketing auto repair prices and the sometimes staggering cost of purchasing an automobile.

The new tires — once they are all in production — will have lower rolling resistance. The lower resistance means better fuel milage averages and the use of less electricity for hybrid and electric cars and trucks.

The Energy Commission’s rules will be done in two phases and be complete by 2033. Supporters — mostly Democrats — say the new tires will increase affordability.

But will they?

If the new rules survive, they will force tire companies to do away with 70% of the tires now available in California. And by the way, these regs were not passed by the Legislature. They were put Into place by the Energy Commission and pushed by Commissioner Nancy Skinner.

“Look at the gas prices everyone’s experiencing,” she said. “If we can bring each Californian’s gas cost down just a little bit, then why wouldn’t we?”

Goodyear Tires spokesman, Bret Gladfelty said these tires are more expensive to produce than those being produced now. He said the price increase could be several hundred dollars higher than they are now which will wipe out the savings.

The Tire Industry Association’s numbers say average tire prices could go from $81 to $157. A four tire purchase could add about $300 to the cost.

Governor Newsom says so what and is happy with the new regulations and believes they’ll save everybody money. “Back to just facts, save a billion dollars a year in fuel,” Newsom said. “You talk about an affordability agenda, that makes some sense to me. The ROI is pretty good.”

Los Angeles mayoral candidate, Spencer Pratt says this is a really bad idea.

“See the magic trick? They deliberately make your gas prices more expensive, to compel you to stop driving,” Spencer said. “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.”

The new tire regulations will do damage to the governor’s and Legislatures’s plan to get everyone into electric autos. They’re a lot heavier than an average car or truck. Electric vehicles force owners to replace tires more often than those driving the average car or truck.

Education activist, Siva Raj said the new, thinner tires will have to be replaced more often no matter what type of vehicle you drive.

“No you ain’t saving anyone money … you’ve just banned 70% of tires, that WILL increase the cost of tires. Economics 101 Gavin,” he said. “And you’re forcing consumers to buy thinner tires — that are more prone to flats — in a state that has the worst road conditions in the country.”

Driving experts say the lower resistance tires will lessen grip on the road. This will be most apparent for stopping and starting on a wet surface.

Republican Assemblyman Josh Hoover agrees with the danger of thinner tires and the higher cost to consumers when purchased. “Not only will this limit consumer choice, it has the potential to raise costs for families by hundreds of dollars,” Hoover said. “Another example of California leading the nation in all the wrong ways.”

California Sen. Tony Strickland is a Republican and the vice chair of the state’s Senate Transportation Committee. He says too much power has been put into the hands of bureaucrats that are not elected, meet just once a month and earn somewhere between $166,306 and $215,631 a year.

Strickland sent the five Energy Commission commissioners a letter demanding they resign.

“If these commissioners had to face the voters this November; they would all be removed,” he said. “You have recourse in terms of an election. You don’t have that with these unaccountable boards and agencies. At a time when families are struggling to make ends meet, the CEC approved a new mandate that will force struggling families to purchase more expensive replacement tires.”

Strickland also took a shot at the governor.

“Someone like Gavin Newsom, I guarantee, hasn’t changed his tires in a long time, or he’s never changed his tires,” Strickland added. “These are political insiders who are close to Governor Newsom, and he appoints these along with the (Democratic) supermajority in Sacramento.”

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