There are currently no regulations on tire wear rates, and few on the chemicals they contain. The wear rate of different tire brands varies considerably, and the toxic chemical content varies even more, according to Nick Molden of Emissions Analytics, the leading independent emissions testing company that carried out the research. Inexpensive changes are possible to reduce their environmental impact.
“You could do a lot by eliminating the most toxic tires,” he said. “It’s not about stopping people from driving, nor is it about having to invent completely new tires. If you could eliminate half of the most toxic tires and align them with the best in class, you could make a huge difference. But right now, there’s no regulatory tool, there’s no oversight.”
