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Last two paragraphs of the PR announcement:
www.energy.ca.gov
"The CEC also conducted a five-year stakeholder engagement process with the tire industry, including manufacturers and trade associations. Based on feedback from stakeholders, the CEC has carved out exceptions for certain specialty tires, such as competition tires, large off-road tires, and all-weather winter performance tires. It also created product categories for long-life tires, ultra-high-performance tires, low-load-index tires, and other tires with special characteristics.
As the CEC implements the replacement tire efficiency standard, it will continue to work with stakeholders and ensure equitable and effective enforcement."
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The exemptions for off-road and specialty tires are documented explicitly in the official regulatory text, program proceedings, and formal adoption announcements issued by the California Energy Commission (CEC). [1, 2]
The specific documentation proving these exemptions exists across a few official layers:
If you are looking to read the exact legal language or check updates on compliance testing, you can review the public docket on the California Energy Commission Proceeding Page. [2]
Would you like help finding the exact technical definitions the CEC uses to classify a tire as a "deep tread" or "large off-road" tire?
[1] https://www.energy.ca.gov
[2] https://www.energy.ca.gov
[3] https://www.kcra.com
[4] https://www.foxbusiness.com
[5] https://www.energy.ca.gov
Last two paragraphs of the PR announcement:
CEC Approves Nation’s First Replacement Tire Efficiency Standards, Saving Californians Billions in Fuel Costs
The California Energy Commission (CEC) on Monday approved the Replacement Tire Efficiency Program (RTEP), the nation’s first efficiency standards for replacement tires sold for passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks in California.
"The CEC also conducted a five-year stakeholder engagement process with the tire industry, including manufacturers and trade associations. Based on feedback from stakeholders, the CEC has carved out exceptions for certain specialty tires, such as competition tires, large off-road tires, and all-weather winter performance tires. It also created product categories for long-life tires, ultra-high-performance tires, low-load-index tires, and other tires with special characteristics.
As the CEC implements the replacement tire efficiency standard, it will continue to work with stakeholders and ensure equitable and effective enforcement."
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The exemptions for off-road and specialty tires are documented explicitly in the official regulatory text, program proceedings, and formal adoption announcements issued by the California Energy Commission (CEC). [1, 2]
The specific documentation proving these exemptions exists across a few official layers:
1. The CEC Replacement Tire Efficiency Program Proceeding
The formal regulatory text developed under the CEC Replacement Tire Efficiency Program Proceeding explicitly outlines which categories are excluded from meeting the minimum performance standards. According to the program’s governing documents, the following categories are legally excluded from the 9.1 N/kN rolling-resistance threshold: [2, 3]
- Deep tread tires (which covers typical off-road and mud-terrain tires)
- Large off-road tires designed for use up to 99 mph
- Tires designed for ATVs and other off-road vehicles
- Winter-type snow tires and all-season winter performance tires
- High load index tires (rated 122 or greater, often used on heavy-duty commercial or towing trucks)
- Competition tires designed strictly for motorsports [2, 3, 4]
2. Official CEC Adoption Announcement
Following the unanimous vote to pass the standards, the CEC Official Press Release formally stated that the agency intentionally carved out these exceptions based on a five-year stakeholder engagement process with the tire industry. The document confirms these exemptions were made to prevent adverse tradeoffs with tire traction, safety, and specialized vehicle utility. [1, 5]3. Historical Statutory Authority (Assembly Bill 844)
The foundation for this entire regulation stems from California Assembly Bill 844, a law passed that mandated the CEC to implement a tire efficiency program. The framework of AB 844 explicitly requires the commission to ensure that any new energy standards do not adversely affect tire safety or tread life, which provided the legal basis for stakeholders to secure exemptions for deep-tread off-road and winter tires that inherently require higher rolling resistance to perform safely. [4, 5]If you are looking to read the exact legal language or check updates on compliance testing, you can review the public docket on the California Energy Commission Proceeding Page. [2]
Would you like help finding the exact technical definitions the CEC uses to classify a tire as a "deep tread" or "large off-road" tire?
[1] https://www.energy.ca.gov
[2] https://www.energy.ca.gov
[3] https://www.kcra.com
[4] https://www.foxbusiness.com
[5] https://www.energy.ca.gov
