Replacement Tire Efficiency Program Proceeding

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Update: New amendments to the proposed regulations were posted on July 17th and are available below in the Rulemaking section and in the docket.

Did you know?
The tires that come on new cars are designed to give you better mileage, so you spend less time and money filling up your car. Unfortunately, replacement tires are often less efficient. That’s why your new car’s mileage might drop the first time you replace those new car tires. The efficiency gap between new car tires and replacement tires means that California drivers are paying nearly $1 billion in additional fuel costs – often without knowing why or how to fix it.

Replacement Tire Efficiency Program
The California Energy Commission (CEC) is considering setting standards for the energy efficiency of replacement tires sold for passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks in California. The proposed regulations are designed to ensure that replacement tires are at least as energy efficient, on average, as tires sold on new vehicles. The proposed regulations would also promote driver safety by setting a minimum wet grip standard.

Example: How much will I save?
Drivers of a gasoline passenger car or SUV with more efficient replacement tires would expect the following approximate savings and costs over the four-year life of the tires:

Phase 1: 2029 to 2033

Savings	Costs	Net Savings
$85	Per tire: $1.50 Per set: $6	$79

Payback period of ~3-4 months

Phase 2: 2033 and beyond

Savings	Costs	Net Savings
$179	Per tire: $6.50 Per set: $26	$153

Payback period of ~7 months

These savings were calculated with gasoline prices of $4.60 per gallon. At the elevated gasoline prices of mid-2026, the savings could be 25% higher than estimated here.

Benefits of Proposed Regulation

Consumer Savings: The proposed regulation would save nearly $1 billion per year in gasoline and electricity costs, putting money back in the pockets of California drivers.
Air Quality: By reducing fuel consumed, the proposed regulation would reduce CO2 emissions by 2.0 million metric tons per year, which is equivalent to taking ~400,000 gasoline cars off California roads. It would also reduce other criteria air pollutants such as nitrous oxides and particulate matter.
Reduced Energy Demand: The proposed regulation would reduce California demand for gasoline by 141 million gallons. It would also reduce demand for electricity by 0.9 TWh each year.

Excluded Specialty Tires

The following tires are excluded from the proposed regulation’s minimum performance standards. Please consult the updated express terms for specific definitions and requirements.