CALIFORNIA'S NEW TIRE RULE — WHAT ABOUT OUR JEEP & OFF-ROAD TIRES? California just appro ved the nation's first efficiency standards for replacement tires — and understandably, the off-road community is asking: What happens to our mud-terrain and aggressive off-road tires? First, DON'T PANIC. California did not just make the tires on your 4x4 illegal. The new rules begin phasing in in 2029 and establish rolling-resistance and wet-traction standards for replacement tires sold in California. Here's the important part for four-wheelers: The regulations contain exemptions for several specialty tires, including deep-tread tires, certain large off-road tires, ATV/OHV tires, competition tires, and some other specialty categories. That means the headline “California bans mud tires” is much too simplistic. But there's still a legitimate concern. Not every tire marketed as an M/T or off-road tire is automatically exempt. Whether our popular Jeep, truck and 4x4 tires q...