From the SEMA Washington, D.C., office
The California Energy Commission (CEC) approved its Replacement Tire Efficiency Program, moving forward with new efficiency standards for replacement tires sold for passenger cars and light-duty trucks in California.
SEMA opposed adoption of the regulation, citing unresolved concerns about tire affordability, consumer choice and the impact on small businesses. SEMA will continue monitoring implementation of the regulation and working to protect access to affordable replacement tires and specialty products for California consumers and businesses.
SEMA recognizes that the final proposal is significantly improved from where the rulemaking began. Following extensive engagement by SEMA and a coalition of industry stakeholders, CEC staff made several meaningful changes that addressed many of the industry's technical and specialty-product concerns. Among those changes, the Commission delayed the first phase of implementation to 2029 and the second phase to 2033, and created new exemptions for competition tires, certain winter tires, small-diameter tires and certain large off-road tires.
Despite those improvements, SEMA continued to oppose the regulation because its central concern remained unresolved: the potential for higher replacement-tire costs for Californians.
Replacement tires are necessary and often unexpected safety purchases. SEMA repeatedly urged the Commission to pause the rulemaking and conduct additional analysis using real-world market data before adopting standards that could increase prices or reduce the number of affordable tire options available to California drivers. Delaying implementation gives businesses more time to prepare, but it does not address the underlying affordability concern.
A bipartisan group of 14 California state lawmakers led by Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City) also raised those concerns and called for the CEC to delay implementation and to reevaluate the proposal, citing concerns about cost-effectiveness, consumer affordability, product availability, tire life and other statutory requirements.
The lawmakers also cited public polling commissioned by SEMA showing significant concern about the mandate's cost. The survey found that 79.5% of respondents were concerned about government requirements that could increase replacement-tire costs, while 68.9% preferred allowing consumers to choose among tires at different price points and performance levels rather than imposing uniform government standards. The lawmakers pointed to those findings as evidence that affordability and consumer choice remain significant concerns for families already facing rising costs.
For more information, contact SEMA Senior Director for State Government Affairs Christian Robinson at christianr@sema.org.
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