The California Energy Commission has adopted new regulations requiring most replacement tires for cars and light-duty trucks to meet minimum efficiency standards starting in 2029.
The Replacement Tire Efficiency Program, adopted on August 17, 2026, introduces rolling resistance limits that will tighten further in 2033, creating a two-stage compliance framework for the industry.
The rules are designed to ensure that replacement tires sold in California are generally as energy efficient as the tyres fitted to new cars and trucks leaving the factory.
Passenger car replacement tires manufactured on or after January 1, 2029, must achieve a rolling resistance coefficient of 9.0 newtons per kilonewton or less to be sold in the state.
That limit becomes significantly stricter for tires manufactured on or after January 1, 2033, when the maximum rolling resistance coefficient drops to 7.1 newtons per kilonewton.
Tire manufacturers and brand owners must test, certify, and report to the California Energy Commission using specified procedures demonstrating that each replacement tire meets the regulatory limits.
The commission will maintain a publicly accessible database identifying compliant replacement tires, and it may conduct audits, random sampling, and spot checks to verify claimed performance figures.
While either the physical tire manufacturer or the brand owner may submit compliance data, both parties can be held liable in the event of noncompliance, adding a layer of shared accountability to the programme.
Regulated businesses should consider how a potential expansion of California Energy Commission requirements to other states might affect their broader operations and supply chains.
Although the new rules currently apply only to passenger cars and light-duty trucks, medium- and heavy-duty vehicle replacement tires could also become a target for future regulations as the programme evolves.
The programme arrives as California and the federal government continue to litigate the state’s new vehicle emission standards, adding another dimension to the ongoing tension between state and national regulatory frameworks.
The California Energy Commission’s authority to enforce energy efficiency standards is well established through its work across a wide range of consumer products, including light bulbs, televisions, and appliances.
With this action, California is once again leading the federal government in setting regulations to address vehicle efficiency in the United States, reinforcing its position as the country’s most active state-level regulator in this space.