“It’s crazy. I’m not allowed to pick tires for my truck, but a 6-year-old can pick a gender.”
– Don Gosse
Should bureaucrats limit your tire choices? Representative Jim Walsh introduced a bill (House Bill 1041) to protect tire choice in the Evergreen state, and if passed, the bill would ensure that tires can be used across the state without interference from bureaucrats. On the surface, constituents may wonder about the purpose of this seemingly “random” bill. A deeper look, however, reveals just how critical protecting tire choice is for the safety of Washington residents, and how proponents of the woke environmental and “climate crisis” agenda want to remove that choice from residents for bogus reasons.
“Tires are critical to vehicle safety, especially in Washington’s rugged and wet conditions,” Walsh explained. “People in Washington should be free to choose the tires that best meet their needs without bureaucratic overreach limiting those options.”
Proponents of limiting tire options for consumers are concerned about the rolling resistance of tires, which leads to greenhouse gas emissions. “When tires connect with the road, they resist the ground, creating energy. Rolling resistance is measured by the ratio of this force to the tire’s load. Tires that grip the road tightly or for longer need more energy to keep moving. The idea behind reducing rolling resistance is that it decreases fuel consumption. However, most of the environmental benefits are based on theories and models rather than actual driving data,” a press release from Walsh’s office explains.
Environmentalists argue that in order to reduce rolling resistance and thus limit greenhouse gas emissions, consumers should not be allowed to buy traditional tires with deep treads. Their proposal ignores the significant risks associated with driving on bald or under-inflated tires, especially in wet or icy conditions. On top of that, because rolling-resistant tires have less tread depth, they need to be replaced more frequently and are typically more expensive than traditional tires.
“My bill highlights the importance of durable, high-tread tires in reducing roadway injuries and fatalities. By prioritizing consumer freedom and aligning state regulations with federal standards, we can take a more balanced approach to safety, regulatory uniformity, and environmental objectives,” Walsh concluded.
The proponents of tire regulation want consumers to buy more expensive, less safe tires to possibly offset some greenhouse gas emissions. HB 1041 protects consumer freedom, lowers the cost of living, and improves road safety.
“So many so-called ‘green’ laws and policies are more about control than actual environmental benefits,” Walsh noted. “Limiting tire options does practically nothing to protect the environment, but it can make vehicles more dangerous to drive in rain or snow. Let free people choose what kind of tires to buy.”
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