Gavin Newsom doubles down on controversial California tire replacement rules

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Key points

• According to the Tire Industry Association, average tire rates could rise from $81 to up to $157.
• The regulations are projected to affect roughly 70% of replacement tires at present on the market, potentially forcing Californians to shell out more for compliant rubber.
• Newsom, nevertheless, brushed aside the backlash and argued the changes are ultimately good for the Golden State.
• "The ROI is pretty good, " Newsom asserted, referring to Democrats' arguments that the rules.
• Republicans have blasted Newsom and fellow Dems for using the affordability argument for the rules.

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday defended California's controversial new tire rules, insisting the sweeping environmental regulations are a win for residents – even as critics warn they could leave drivers paying more.

Speaking at a press conference in the Bay Area, the Democratic governor touted the rules approved Monday that will phase out replacement tires that fail to meet the state's new energy-efficiency standards.

Meanwhile, the regulations are projected to affect roughly 70% of replacement tires at present on the market, potentially forcing Californians to shell out more for compliant rubber.

"The ROI is pretty good, " Newsom asserted, referring to Democrats' arguments that the rules. It mandate lower-resistance tires, will translate to cars using less gas or electricity from better mileage.

"Rolling resistance" is how how much energy it takes to keep a tire moving down the road.

"Back to just facts, save a billion dollars a year in fuel, " Newsom remarked. "You talk about an affordability agenda, that makes some sense to me."

"It'd be wise to take advantage of new, efficient tires, lower your cost at the pump, " he continued. "From a consumer perspective, the savings is self-evident, so I think it was a good choice in that respect."

Notably, a day earlier, his office had trumpeted estimates by the California Energy Commission that the rules will save drivers almost $1 billion per year in fuel and electricity costs.

According to Newsom, despite all the recent attention, the rulemaking process for the new regulations went on for years. He asserted almost all but one of the major tire manufacturers were on board, probable referring to Goodyear. It actively led industry opposition.

Other tires manufacturers, such as Michelin, did not oppose the rules but expressed caution over enforcement, testing methods and whether smaller manufacturers could be disadvantaged.

Critics of the ban on high-resistance replacement tires asserted that actual rate increases for tires could reach a number of hundred dollars as the industry scrambles to replace them.

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

Republicans have blasted Newsom and fellow Dems for using the affordability argument for the rules. The state has not done anything to address the underlying causes of high gas rates, such as the state's taxes and environmental regulations demanding certain blends of gasolines, they stated.

"See the magic trick? They deliberately create your gas costs more expensive, to compel you to stop driving. Then they employ the artificially high cost of fuel to impose further regulations and higher tire costs on you, " former Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt stated.

Taken together, the developments around gavin Newsom doubles down on controversial California tire replacement rules point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.