WASHINGTON (March 31)—April 4 is the new release date for the National Academy of Sciences´ long-awaited report on tire fuel efficiency, according to a spokesman for the Transportation Research Board within the National Research Council.
A 12-member committee encompassing representatives from the tire industry, academia, private testing facilities and environmental groups evaluated the effects of lowering rolling resistance on replacement tires in regard to fuel consumption, tire wear, scrap tire generation, tire performance and safety, and consumer spending on tires and fuel.
The report originally was expected this week, but there were a few minor last-minute delays, the spokesman said.
The tire industry and other observers expect the results of the NAS report to have a major impact on state and federal efforts to mandate tire fuel efficiency ratings for replacement tires. The California Energy Commission is conducting its own feasibility study of a California tire fuel efficiency law passed two years ago.
The National Research Council is administered jointly by the NAS, the National Academy of Engineering and the Institute of Medicine.