‘It’s all climate scam’: Jake fires back after California becomes first state to regulate what tires you can buy

California has become the first state in the country to regulate replacement tires, approving new efficiency standards that could eliminate 70% of the tires currently sold in the state by 2033, according to KCRA. The California Energy Commission (CEC) voted unanimously to adopt the rules, which set rolling-resistance standards for replacement tires sold on passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks.

KIRO host Jake Skorheim didn’t mince words, dismissing the entire regulatory push as government overreach.

“It’s all climate scam,” Jake said on “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio.

The rules will be phased in starting in 2029, with a stricter standard kicking in by 2033. Goodyear warned the regulations would wipe out the vast majority of tires currently available in the state, while the CEC argued the market will adapt, just as it did with light bulbs and refrigerators.

California tire rule reporter urged to change ‘tone’

Jake said the story took an unusual turn after the CEC reached out to the reporter who originally broke the news, urging a “tonal change.”

“She reached out. She says, ‘I’ve been meaning to reach out to you all day. It’s been a whirlwind. Your story got a lot of attention,'” Jake said, reading from the message. “‘One thing in particular has gotten a lot of traction, and it is misleading. My hunch is you’re probably not interested in a correction or modifying any future reporting, but I got to share my two cents and urge you to consider taking a different tone.'”

The CEC official argued that the 70% figure was misleading because manufacturers have six years to adapt and produce compliant tires, pointing to Michelin and Bridgestone as companies that support the standards.

Jake says follow the money and the flags

Jake wasn’t buying it, pointing out a key detail about the companies on each side.

“She highlights the fact that there are two companies that are supportive — Michelin and Bridgestone,” Jake said. “Michelin is a French company. Bridgestone is out of Tokyo.”

He noted that the two companies opposing the rules, including Goodyear, are American, with one based in California and the other in Akron, Ohio.

“These are people who understand how business in America works, and they’re not trying to curry favor like maybe some people from across the pond are so they can still continue to do business in the United States,” Jake said. “I would say that it’s probably not a completely fair across-the-board comparison, because these American companies have American skin in the game and it’s just a bad idea to regulate this stuff.”

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

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