SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Jan. 10, 2013) — As of Jan. 1, truck tractors operating in California using two or more open-shoulder drive tires were required to use tires verified as low rolling-resistance under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) SmartWay Transport Partnership, according to California's Air Resources Board (CARB).
Tractors using retreaded tires not verified for low rolling resistance under the SmartWay program may continue to use all such tires manufactured before Jan. 1, 2014, and continue to use them until Jan. 1, 2016, or until they wear out, CARB said.
After Jan. 1, 2014, all retreaded tires used on California tractors must be capped with tread material the SmartWay program has verified as low-rolling-resistance, the agency said.
CARB approved a regulation in December 2008 to require low-rolling-resistance tires on California tractor-trailers in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Tractor-trailers from model year 2011 and after were required to use SmartWay-verified tires beginning Jan. 1, 2010.
Retreads not certified by SmartWay that were manufactured before Jan. 1, 2013, may be used on model-year 2011 and later trucks until Jan. 1, 2015 (tractors) or Jan. 1, 2017 (trailers), according to the agency.