The only issue I see with this is that gas mileage varies SO MUCH based on how you drive, how heavy your car is, both empty curb weight and fully loaded, whether or not you need an oil change, a new air filter, yadda yadda yadda. So, the tires fortunate enough to get a higher rating may be purchased strictly for that rating without taking into account a ton of variables. But, A for effort to the NHTSA.

There is nothing wrong with the existing tire label. These proposed labels oversimplify the issue and may result in improper tire selection.

Certainly a snow tire will have more rolling resistance and thus a lower fuel efficiency/greenhouse gas rating. However certain applications, Michigans UP comes to mind, require just this type of tire. The new labels may make a consumer feel that the snow tire perfectly suited to their conditions is in some manner deficient.

Consumers can understand the labels now, I see very few cars on the road without tires, so leave well enough alone.

@RogerTheAlien: I don't think absolute mileage is as important as relative mileage compared to other tires tested under similar conditions. Sort of like Energystar, sure the performance of your fridge will vary based on how full it is and how often it's opened. You just need to know how it stacks up against competing models.

So this is basically going to raise the prices of tires.

or you could spend 10 minutes on tirerack before shelling out 100s of dollars for the most critical safety component on your car...

@RogerTheAlien: Rolling resistance is an easily definable metric that can be used for rating how a tire will affect your fuel economy. They are not suggesting saying "if you use this tire, you will get 36 mpg!" Also, given a car with all of those variables you listed, the lower rolling resistance tire will still give you better fuel economy.

They already list treadWEAR rating and traction ratings on the sidewall. The more gas saving they are, the less they grip on the pavement because there's less rolling resistance. It's a tradeoff in any event and do most people really look at these existing labels anyhow?

Not a bad idea. All the information on a tire now can be a bit confusing and a lot of people probably don't know what it all means.

I think the new label is pretty simple and easy to understand.

Me needing to know everything would want more data.

+1 for the tags.
Kinda giggled, and choked on my coffee due to that.

@AllanG54: Thanks for hitting the tread WEAR issue.

Skinny tire = less rolling resistance and grip = VW Beetle (the original)= less gas used

Fat tire = more rolling restistance and grip = Lamborgini Countach = more gas used.

Picture of sad motorcycle tire and wheel missing from its thefted motorcycle decorating a post about car tires...

Only could have been more sorrowful if it had a crying, abandoned kitten next to it...

@Applekid: This.

This is the stupidest thing in the world. People are going to buy crappy tires with bad handling characteristics that greatly increase their stopping distance and make their cars less safe on corners and in inclement conditions because of this.

Ultra-crappy tires are hard. That gives them low rolling resistance, long durability, and better fuel economy. It also makes them a horrible purchase, because of the issues I noted above.

Who the hell came up with this idea, anyway?

What they SHOULD be doing is revamping the regulations as to how long tire retailers can keep tires in stock.

I've seen people get tires mounted that were "new" and over 4 years old according to the date stamp on them. Nothing like dry rotted tires to get your day going.

@Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!): i know it is irrelevant to the post, but I really dont understand some internet jargon; what does "THIS" mean?

I think they need to put the tire manufacturer date on the OUTSIDE of the tire so it is easily viewable by someone other than pygmies. I think that's a much better way of increasing safety which gives consumers relevant information.

I think this a step in the right direction. The current system is explained here: [www.tirerack.com]

The existing system rates tires based on treadwear, wet traction, and temperature. The major issue with the treadwear rating is that it cannot be used to compare across different tire manufacturers because each one is allowed to use a different reference standard. So an absolute measurement on treadwear would be an improvement. The new system does not appear to change the traction rating method nor does it mention temperature rating. But it appears that the new rolling resistance would be an absolute rating and therefore more useful.

@Adrienne Willis:

It means she agrees.

I think that the best thing that the feds could do is make the seller CLEARLY LABEL in bold letters the country of origin. Just bought a new set and got quoted a knockout price...On some chinese tires that are using a well known name.The profit margin must be obscene ,because the owner of the tire shop did everything he could to talk me out of a set made in america. This after I have been doing buiness there for 20+ years.I told him that he wouldnt see me in there again ,ever , if my family's saftey meant so little to him. I will happily pay some extra to get a quality product made by a company that is accountable under american law.

@tbax929: is it an acronym? I still don't get it; how does THIS translate into "I agree"? Sorry to be a jamoke about this.

If I am reading it right this rule, like the previous one, will exclude most truck/SUV tires. Frankly, that sucks.

[nhtsa.gov]

@satoru: [www.tirerack.com]

Looks like it is on the outside to me. I have looked at this on the tires on my car and didn't have to unmount them.

sally sells sea shells down by the sea shore.

i can say a tongue twister too.

@Adrienne Willis: This = You all should read THIS because it is true/awesome/hilarious

@Snarkysnake: Alas, where a product is made doesn't assure its quality. Look at the whole Firestone/Explorer issue ...

I have 6 cars, and the tires on them were from Brazil, US, Japan, or Korea. I didn't base any of that on price or country of origin, but rather for how they performed (or in the case of Brazilian, the fact that 165R15 tires are just uncommon these days).

@Adrienne Willis: this, meaning "THIS set of words is the lexical utterance I was planning on."

Better?

@YouDidWhatNow?: Many folks already go on the treadwear and mileage warranty for their tire purchases. This isn't going to change their "hard rubber" habits.

Not all high-mileage tires are going to have horrible traction, and not all low-treadwear rated offer good traction.

@februarymakeup: thank you! i really do appreciate the clarification.

@econobiker:

I need the Lamborgini because I drive like Batman. :)

@Adrienne Willis: No problemo!

where we're going, we don't need roads

@Applekid: Good call. Still not sure this is as great an idea as it's being lauded for.