California Starts A Tire Fire That Will Burn Consumers In Every State

Sigh, California has resurrected Assembly Bill 844, which was originally passed in 2003 but never enacted. However, on Monday, the California Energy Commission (CEC) voted unanimously to approve the Replacement Tire Efficiency Program – the nation’s first efficiency mandate for replacement tires sold to passenger car and light-truck drivers.

You’re probably wondering the same thing that popped into my mind. If this was passed in 2003, why is it raising its ugly head now, 23 years later? The answer, of course, is that it’s California, and although officials will always claim that it’s for the public good, the real reason is that it’s politically more convenient now.

Commissioner Nancy Skinner admitted as much when questioned about the timing. She brought this unnecessary debacle to Chairman Hochschild’s attention, who stated that until Skinner approached him, he didn’t even know about the bill.

After the vote, a local television reporter asked Skinner directly whether she had pushed for the tire rulemaking. She chose not to answer the question. When asked why the commission had waited 23 years to use authority it already possessed, she told reporters the mandate had been on hold until gas prices made it politically advantageous to proceed.

So, what is this tire fire about? Well, as soon as you become aware that the CEC is involved, it’s safe to assume two things. First, whatever they are proposing is either completely unnecessary or it’s a major overstep. Second, they will always tie it in some way to the mythical delusion of climate change.

California regulators say that while new factory tires perform efficiently, the cheaper replacement tires drivers typically buy do not meet the same standards. Under new regulations, these lower-quality options will start to be phased out in 2029. By 2033, 70 percent of the replacement tires currently available for sale in California will be banned.

Not surprisingly, state regulators want to downplay the cost to the public. Based on their math, they claim that even under the strictest conditions under the “phase 2” requirements in 2033, it will add only about $6.50 per tire, or $26 to the cost of a full set.

CEC Chairman David Hochschild rolled out the same tired line Democrats always use, stating, “This ultimately is about protecting consumers.”

Sure, it is.

Goodyear isn’t buying that fabrication. Company representative Bret Gladfelty informed the commission that the rules would increase costs for consumers. He argued that the commission had approved the vote without addressing significant technical and legal disagreements regarding the regulation.

He also painted a realistic picture of the costs involved. Compliant tires will cost $365 per set. The state’s projected lifetime fuel savings of $179 does not cover the difference. Goodyear is a tire manufacturer, so I trust their estimate more than a group of politicians sitting in Sacramento trying to make this needless regulation palatable to the public.

Let’s recap how this latest nonsense came to pass. A regulation that was passed in 2003 got lost in the shuffle. Then, Skinner somehow tripped over it, brought it to Hochschild, who had never even heard of it, but voted yes for it.

California Rep. Kevin Kiley fired back after the vote. “This latest blow to common sense could cost drivers hundreds of dollars.”

California has a long-established approach to regulating vehicles. For over 50 years, the state’s Air Resources Board has implemented tailpipe standards that are stricter than federal regulations. As a result, seventeen states and the District of Columbia have adopted these California emissions rules under a Clean Air Act provision. This effectively gives California a significant influence over how automakers design their nationwide fleets.

Since California is the largest automotive market in the country, no major tire manufacturer will create one product line specifically for California and another for the other 49 states. Economics simply do not support that approach. Companies will produce to the highest standards available in the market and sell that product nationwide. As a result, drivers in every state bear the costs associated with the insane changes California insists on.

The tire industry may end up in the same boat, and it doesn’t require other states to pass a single law.

Michelin’s director of government affairs endorsed the California Energy Commission’s (CEC) efficiency targets during Monday’s hearing. This endorsement was not simply an expression of environmental goodwill. As one of the world’s largest tire manufacturers, Michelin prefers to operate under a single production standard rather than manage two different ones, especially if it increases the selling price.

If Michelin endorses Sacramento’s numbers, it sends a message to every competitor that a floor has been established for everyone.

People who have never even heard of the CEC are getting hit in their wallets because of the decisions this meddling board is making. It’s a case of California using its physical size, number of cars, etc., to punish an entire nation with unrealistic and unwanted regulations.