'Tired' of Government Overreach? Don't Go to Washington

Tired of the government interfering in your purchasing choices? It is in the nature of government to grow ever larger and more intrusive. It is in the nature of elected officials to try to tell you what to do — for your own good, of course. We're all tired of it.

Now, in the latest example of government overreach, the Washington state legislature is considering a bill to limit the tires you can buy, which, if this becomes law, will make tires available in that state more expensive and less durable. Out where the rubber meets the road, this is just a bad idea.

It could be a lot harder to find affordable and durable car tires under a bill being considered in the current legislative session.
The bill would give the Washington State Department of Commerce the authority to ban tires it deems inefficient and bad for the climate. It would apply to any replacement tires for cars and light-duty trucks under 10,000 pounds. It would also give the Department of Commerce the ability to fine people anywhere from $100 to $10,000 for violations.
“At the end of the day, we’re facing a climate crisis, and we need to use as many possible tools to get ourselves out of that,” Democrat Representative Chipalo Street told the House Transportation Committee. “This is one way to increase the gas efficiency of some of our vehicles.”

The Washington state legislators would be well advised to tread lightly here. Rep. Street (no, I'm not making that name up, and yes, that is one of this story's minor ironies) thinks it will increase the "gas efficiency" of "some of" our vehicles.

Presumably, he means gas mileage, and it's unclear what he means by "some of." But governments, in general, have a very bad track record of meddling in our automotive choices; almost every time they try it, they end up sidewalling themselves.

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In another aspect of this, one which should come as a surprise to no one, the legislature's proposal will ply tire buyers with claims that the rolling resistance of tires must be controlled — and this will not only make tires more expensive but arguably less safe.

To achieve the rolling resistance necessary, you would need to reduce tread depth. And that is not a good idea, according to Tracey Norberg of the U.S. Tire Manufacturer’s Association.
“The easiest way to reduce rolling resistance is to reduce tread depth which will, in turn, reduce wet traction performance,” she testified. “It’ll reduce tire life, and it’ll increase scrap tire generation.”

Hydroplaning, anyone? One further consideration: That idea kind of falls flat.

This is what happens when government officials, elected or appointed, mess around with things they know little or nothing about. Washington state drivers should be able to make their decisions about tires without pressure from some bureaucrat. Also, Washington voters need to look into re-tiring these legislators, just in the interest of keeping it wheel.

This seems appropriate.