Energy Commission’s stall is costing drivers

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OPINION – Delays at the California Energy Commission are costing drivers at the pump.

The Commission has been working in recent years to tackle an expensive problem: most replacement tires sold in California are surprisingly inefficient. A recent report revealed that these tires are costing California drivers an average of $184 on extra gasoline over the lifetime of a set.

The Commission was working to set standards to ensure all replacement tires meet an efficiency baseline, most recently publishing a draft framework for a replacement tire efficiency program. But the Commission’s work appears to have come to a standstill.

There’s no excuse for taking this long to get the standards done. We’re not looking for the Commission to reinvent the wheel, but simply to ensure that all new replacement tires on the market are about as good as the ones that come on new vehicles. It’s a commonsense step that will save drivers money and reduce needless pollution. And the legislature required the Commission to set standards years ago.

Car manufacturers typically ship new vehicles with fuel-efficient tires because they are a low-cost way to help meet vehicle fuel economy standards. But without efficiency standards for replacement tires, most purchasers unwittingly end up with replacements that just waste a lot of energy. This hidden expense especially impacts low-income drivers, as they are more likely to own an older vehicle with replacement tires. Expert testing, as well as their widespread use on new cars, has shown that efficient tires are safe and long-lasting.

Tire efficiency is just as important for EVs as it is for gasoline-powered cars. Inefficient tires are costing drivers of EVs an average of $161 in additional electricity over the lifetime of a set. And they’re reducing the range of a typical EV by 10 to 15 miles compared to its range with the original tires.

In addition to saving drivers money, implementing tire standards would directly support climate and air quality standards required by law and backed by Governor Newsom. In this year alone, inefficient tires on California roads are causing additional emissions of nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and carbon dioxide in amounts equivalent to the annual pollution from nearly three-quarters of a million gasoline vehicles.

Tire standards are a straightforward solution to make everyday life more affordable and sustainable. It’s time for the Energy Commission to get the job done.

Bill Magavern is policy director at the Coalition for Clean Air. Courtney Griffin is director of consumer product safety at the Consumer Federation of America.