New California Replacement Tire Standards [⛔️ ADMIN WARNING: NO POLITICS]

[Brian_B]

I had heard rumors but saw this today

https://nypost.com/2026/08/18/busin...rs-approve-new-replacement-tire-restrictions/

Can’t wait to see what my authorized tire choices get to be once this goes into effect

Sponsored

 

[Eldowerks]

Bureaucrats gotta bureaucrat, especially in California.
They have to nanny to justify their existence.

Cali bureaucrats are typically blind to second and third order consequences.

How much you wanna bet that their new reduced rolling resistance standards will outlaw many softer-composite snow tires in California?

 

[Neps]

Are you not convinced we need government to protect us

Arizona Shopping List
- Gas powered equipment (Mowers, Blowers, Generators, etc.)
- Insecticides
- Paint
- Ammunition
- Gas Cans
- Tires

Edit-
- Wood burning Fireplaces
- Water Heaters
- Gas Appliances

 

[Jossman 2026]

Sounds like will have to go out of state to replace All 35's. Forget drugs + guns as a whole new bunch of Dealers will emerge!

 

[Fordified1]

Safety be damned.

 

[MilesTeg]

Nypost doing it's usual hack job. The regs basically only apply to summer highway tires.

Key details regarding the exemptions include:

• Snow Tires: Tires defined as "winter-type snow tires" or those certified with the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) symbol are fully exempt from the energy performance standards.
• All-Weather Tires: Tires meeting the specific definition of all-season winter performance tires (typically 3PMSF rated) are also exempt, though they will be tracked by the state for potential future regulation.
• Competition Tires: Motorsports tires with a treadwear rating of 200 or lower are exempt.
• Other Exemptions: The rules also exempt off-road tires (typically 34.5+ inches or load index 122+), motorcycle tires, spare tires, and low-volume tires (under 15,000 units annually).

https://getyourwheels.com/blog/california-performance-tire-rules-explained/

 

[SLO BRNC]

A lot of hype over a nothing-burger. It won’t affect us Bronco owners, so don’t lose any sleep over this.

 

[KreeHBronco]

Gee, just what we need, another law attempting to save the planet. We can add this to our outlawing natural gas stoves/ovens, pushing electric water heaters & heat pumps, mandate for 100% ZEV by 2035, crazy gas prices due to a) taxes, b) special blend, c) war on refineries, ...

 

[userdude]

The twelve cycles of rage bait.

 

[DarthLincoln]

Nypost doing it's usual hack job. The regs basically only apply to summer highway tires.

Key details regarding the exemptions include:

• Snow Tires: Tires defined as "winter-type snow tires" or those certified with the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) symbol are fully exempt from the energy performance standards.
• All-Weather Tires: Tires meeting the specific definition of all-season winter performance tires (typically 3PMSF rated) are also exempt, though they will be tracked by the state for potential future regulation.
• Competition Tires: Motorsports tires with a treadwear rating of 200 or lower are exempt.
• Other Exemptions: The rules also exempt off-road tires (typically 34.5+ inches or load index 122+), motorcycle tires, spare tires, and low-volume tires (under 15,000 units annually).

https://getyourwheels.com/blog/california-performance-tire-rules-explained/

Thanks, I should have know NYPost was ignoring a lot of the details. Just doing some research about the exemptions and found any of the following can make a tire exempt:

• Deep-tread exemption: tread depth ≥ 18/32 inch
• Large off-road exemption: maximum speed rating Q or lower—up to 99 mph—and overall tirediameter ≥ 34.5 inches
• High-load-index exemption: load index 122 or greater

Still, I don‘t think the Badlands‘ BFGoodrich All-Terrain KO3 33” tire meets any of those exceptions unless it is E-load? Will have to wait for more info.

 

[userdude]

Thanks, I should have know NYPost was ignoring a lot of the details. Just doing some research about the exemptions and found any of the following can make a tire exempt:

• Deep-tread exemption: tread depth ≥ 18/32 inch
• Large off-road exemption: maximum speed rating Q or lower—up to 99 mph—and overall tirediameter ≥ 34.5 inches
• High-load-index exemption: load index 122 or greater

Still, I don‘t think the Badlands‘ BFGoodrich All-Terrain KO3 33” tire meets any of those exceptions unless it is E-load? Will have to wait for more info.

So that Mustang Raptor is gonna happen!

 

[thesocalexplorer]

Thanks, I should have know NYPost was ignoring a lot of the details. Just doing some research about the exemptions and found any of the following can make a tire exempt:

• Deep-tread exemption: tread depth ≥ 18/32 inch
• Large off-road exemption: maximum speed rating Q or lower—up to 99 mph—and overall tirediameter ≥ 34.5 inches
• High-load-index exemption: load index 122 or greater

Still, I don‘t think the Badlands‘ BFGoodrich All-Terrain KO3 33” tire meets any of those exceptions unless it is E-load? Will have to wait for more info.

From my understanding, they are 3 peak rated so should be fine as-is. That's my interpretation for my own KO2's which are 33's as well.

 

[vrtical]

BWAHHHHHH I got some 200TWs and live in a free state.

 

[Desmolicious]

Thanks, I should have know NYPost was ignoring a lot of the details. Just doing some research about the exemptions and found any of the following can make a tire exempt:

• Deep-tread exemption: tread depth ≥ 18/32 inch
• Large off-road exemption: maximum speed rating Q or lower—up to 99 mph—and overall tirediameter ≥ 34.5 inches
• High-load-index exemption: load index 122 or greater

Still, I don‘t think the Badlands‘ BFGoodrich All-Terrain KO3 33” tire meets any of those exceptions unless it is E-load? Will have to wait for more info.

KO3 meets this exemption:

• Snow Tires: Tires defined as "winter-type snow tires" or those certified with the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) symbol are fully exempt from the energy performance standards.

 

[DarthLincoln]

From my understanding, they are 3 peak rated so should be fine as-is. That's my interpretation for my own KO2's which are 33's as well.

I hope so. I’ve always liked the BFG KO tires and would prefer to stick with them.

according to the CEC rule making documents, the symbol alone isn’t it sufficient to meet its ”winter-type snow tire” or “all-season winter performance tire” exemption. It also has to meet a traction test:

(66) “Winter-type snow tire” means a tire that has all the characteristics of subsections (A), and (B) of this definition. A tire subject to the UTQG standards is not a “winter-type snow tire.”

(A) Attains a traction index equal to or greater than 112, compared to the ASTM F2493-20 standard reference test tire when using the snow traction test on the medium pack snow surface as described in ASTM F1805-20.​

(B) Is equipped with studs or is marked with an Alpine Symbol, specified in the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards at 49 Code of Federal Regulations part 571.139 S5.5(i) (October 1, 2024), on at least one sidewall.​

​

EDIT: or an “all-season winter performance tire”:

(4) “All-season winter performance tire” means a tire that is subject to the UTQG standards and

​

(A) attains a traction index equal to or greater than 112, compared to the ASTM F2493-20 standard reference test tire when using the snow traction test on the medium pack snow surface as described in ASTM F1805-20; and​

​

(B) is marked with an Alpine Symbol, specified in the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards at 49 Code of Federal Regulations part 571.139 S5.5(i (October 1, 2024), on at least one sidewall.​

​

EDIT#2: OK, after a little more digging, for a US made tire certified per FMVSS 139, the Alpine Symbol 3PMSF means the tire has a traction index of at least 112. So indeed the KOs are exempt since it has the symbol.

Sponsored