Dunlop Tires scorches Gavin Newsoms new rules thatll have startling impact on drivers

One of the largest tire producers in the world has torn into Gavin Newsom’s new tire regulations and warned they will cause price increases and destroy the market.At a length press conference Monday, Dunlop Tires’ North America President and CEO Darren Thomas said the cost of manufacturing will spike — which will be passed on to customers.He also raised concerns about safety, durability and environmental hazards sparked by the governor’s new rules.The California Energy Commission last week approved plans that will phase out the sale of replacement tires that do not meet energy-efficiency standards — potentially wiping out 70% of all those on the market.The regulations 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 and get better mileage, which Democrats have argued will help make driving more affordable.California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.

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Never miss a story But Thomas said: “Will prices increase? You bet they’ll increase.It’s going to be a real issue, in terms of cost, it’s going to go up.

By how much? We don’t know.Is there going to be fuel savings? In theory.”Dunlop Tire executives said California drivers can already save money and improve tire performance simply by keeping their tires properly inflated.Thomas continued: “Generally, when you attempt to regulate something, you don’t understand, or don’t care much about, you create bad policy.

And that’s probably what we have here.”The drastic move is being justified on two fronts: reducing emissions and helping Californians save money on gas — potentially up to $1 billion a year, according to California Energy Commission estimates.Thomas noted the impact could be fe...