Dunlop warns new California tire rules could harm safety, choice and affordability

Dunlop Tires North America (DTNA), a unit of Sumitomo Rubber Industries, has publicly criticized California’s newly introduced efficiency standards for replacement tires, arguing the rules risk undermining consumer safety, choice, affordability, competition and the broader automotive aftermarket. In a statement issued on 19 August, DTNA acknowledged the environmental goals behind the policy but warned that focusing narrowly on rolling resistance—one of many performance factors in tire design—could unintentionally compromise other critical attributes such as traction, durability, handling, load capacity, wet-weather performance, ride comfort, noise levels and cost. The company emphasized that replacement tires are engineered for diverse applications and consumer needs, unlike original equipment (OE) tires, which are developed in close collaboration with automakers to meet specific vehicle platform requirements and regulatory targets like fuel economy. DTNA stressed that while reducing rolling resistance is a valid engineering and regulatory objective, it should not come at the expense of overall tire performance or consumer priorities such as tread life, wet traction, off-road capability, handling, price or total cost per mile. The company urged California policymakers to adopt a more holistic evaluation of tire regulations, considering the full economic and environmental lifecycle rather than focusing solely on rolling resistance. DTNA’s concerns were raised in Rancho Cucamonga, California, and come as part of broader industry pushback against the new state-level standards.