A new rule by Gov. Gavin Newsom orders 70% of today's car tires off the market by 2033. California's climate obsessives never tire, and now we mean literally.

Last week Gov. Gavin Newsom's energy regulators rolled out costly new regulations for automobile tires to reduce CO2 emissions. The California Energy Commission moved to impose so-called rolling resistance standards on tires that they say will improve fuel economy. "This ultimately is about protecting consumers," said chairman David Hochschild.

What would Californians do without progressive regulators to protect them by restricting choices? Environmentalists complain that most tires people buy at auto shops have a higher drag than those that come with new vehicles. That's because auto makers equip new models with ultra-low drag tires to meet fuel economy and emission standards in labs. But these tires are more expensive and come with real-world trade-offs.

They tend to wear out faster, so they have to be replaced more often. They also have less traction, which can make driving in wet conditions more perilous. Such safety considerations are particularly weighty for SUVs and trucks, which have longer stopping distances and can cause more damage during collisions.

Gavin Newsom's regulators brushed past these concerns and ordered some 70% of tires currently sold in the state off the market by 2033. Tire manufacturers say models that meet the new standards cost hundreds of dollars more per set, far more than the commission's estimate and any savings consumers would derive from improved fuel economy. California regulators notoriously low-ball the economic costs and exaggerate the benefits of their endless rules.

They continue to insist the state's green-energy mandates save money for consumers, though Gavin Newsom's electricity rates are more than double those in neighboring states. State energy efficiency requirements don't offset the higher rates. The rising costs of the state's climate regulations explain why many Californians are souring on them.

A recent survey by the Public Policy Institute of California found that 32% support Gavin Newsom's ban on new gas-powered cars by 2035, down from 49% in 2021. Only 38% say they are willing to pay more for renewable electricity versus 56% in 2016. As Gavin Newsom prepares to run for President, Americans will have to decide if they want their future to be as costly as the Governor's regulators have made it in California.