From Tire Review Staff & Wire Reports
AKRON, OH — The California Energy Commission has retained Smithers Scientific Services to conduct testing as the state looks to implement a law mandating fuel-efficient tires.
The 18-month, $400,000 contract calls for Smithers to “examine tire characteristics such as longevity, safety, ease of recycling and establish a database of findings,” according to the Energy Commission. The study, authorized under legislation passed in September 2003, is aimed at establishing a consumer tire fuel efficiency reporting system and minimum fuel efficiency standards in the state.
California Assembly Bill 844 gave the Energy Commission authority to adopt fuel efficiency labeling and ratings standards for all replacement tires sold in the state beginning in 2008. The law also requires fuel efficiency data be made easily accessible to anyone purchasing tires.
The Energy Commission claims “millions of gallons of fuel could be saved if consumers use fuel efficiency information as they make their decisions about replacement tires.” When Assembly Bill 844 was passed, its backers claimed Californians could save some 300 millions gallons of fuel annually if replacement tires were as fuel efficient as OE tires.
While the resulting law doesn’t prescribe that, it does mandate the tire efficiency standard must be technically feasible and cost effective, must not adversely impact tire safety or tire life, and it cannot interfere with the state’s efforts to manage scrap tire disposal.
In addition, the fuel efficiency standards are to be based on the results of both real-world fleet and laboratory testing – hence the contract with Smithers – developed by tiremakers and state officials. The results are to be submitted to the state Energy Commission by Jan. 1, 2006.
By July 1, 2006, the Energy Commission must also create a database of the fuel efficiency of a representative sample of replacement tires sold in the state; create a fuel efficiency rating system for replacement tires sold in California; and develop requirements by which tiremakers must report to the commission on the fuel efficiency of their tires sold in the state.
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