California’s stunning new rules on tires spark widespread backlash over massive regulatory overreach

Former Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt and Californians concerned with the Golden State’s skyrocketing cost of living are furious with state Democrats who pushed new regulations on replacement car tires.

The rules are a “scam” that will actually increase costs more, Pratt claimed in a post on X.

The California Energy Commission unanimously approved new rules Monday that will phase out the sale of replacement tires that don’t meet the state’s energy-efficiency standards — potentially wiping out 70% of the tires currently available to California drivers.

The rules target a tire’s “rolling resistance,” or how much energy it takes to keep a tire moving down the road. Lower resistance means cars use less gas or electricity from better mileage, which Democrats claimed will help affordability.

“Look at the gas prices everyone’s experiencing,” Commissioner Nancy Skinner told KCRA. “If we can bring each Californian’s gas cost down just a little bit, then why wouldn’t we?”

Democrats like Gov. Gavin Newsom even trumpeted estimates that the new rules would save drivers $1 billion a year, with his office declaring that “MAGA hates to see it.”

But that was contradicted by estimates from Goodyear’s Bret Gladfelty, who claimed that actual price increases for tires could reach several hundred dollars by the 2030s as the industry scrambles to replace the 70% of tires wiped out by the regulations. .

According to the Tire Industry Association, average tire prices could increase from $81 to up to $157. If someone purchased four new tires for his car, the difference could exceed $300 per vehicle.

Pratt and others noted that the state has not done anything to address the underlying causes of high gas prices, such as the state’s taxes and environmental regulations demanding certain blends of gasolines.

“A longtime Democrat politician who made gas prices the highest in the nation complains about said high gas price and uses it as justification to raise the cost of your tires,” Congressman James Gallagher (R-Calif.) “You can’t make this up!”

Skinner was a past Democratic state senator known for writing pro-environment bills, Gallagher noted.

“See the magic trick? They deliberately make your gas prices more expensive, to compel you to stop driving. Then they use the artificially high cost of fuel to impose further regulations and higher tire costs on you,” Pratt said.

“The whole communist schtick is a positive feedback loop,” said the ex-reality TV star.

Critics said that the new rules ironically may make electric vehicles — a priority for Newsom’s environmental agenda — less affordable. EVs go through tires more regularly because they are often heavier.

“No you ain’t saving anyone money … you’ve just banned 70% of tires, that WILL increase the cost of tires. Economics 101 Gavin,” said Siva Raj, a Northern California education activist.

“And you’re forcing consumers to buy thinner tires — that are more prone to flats — in a state that has the worst road conditions in the country,” he added.

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It’s not just costs; some critics worry whether the less resistant tires could mean more danger on the roads.

Lower resistance on tires can decrease the tire wear life and lessen grip, especially for stopping and starting on wet surfaces, car experts said. The commission did relax requirements for tires with increased “wet grip,” or traction in the rain.

Environmentalists and clean air advocates supported the new regulations for the aim of lower emissions from the tires’ better mileage.

Still, Republicans said the tradeoff for that is consumers paying more as they struggle with day-to-day living.

“Not only will this limit consumer choice, it has the potential to raise costs for families by hundreds of dollars,” said Assemblyman Josh Hoover. “Another example of California leading the nation in all the wrong ways.”