According to SEMA, legislation has been introduced in the Oregon House of Representatives at the request of Governor Ted Kulongoski to ban aftermarket parts if alternatives are available that “decrease greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles.” In reality, Oregon H.B. 2186 (pdf) merely states that the “Environmental Quality Commission may adopt by rule the following to help this state achieve the greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals.” The specific option that SEMA is steamed about states that “Restrictions and prohibitions on the sale and distribution of after-market motor vehicle parts, including but not limited to tires, if alternatives are available that decrease greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles,” may be enacted.
For some perspective though, the bill would also empower the EQC to enact “restrictions and prohibitions on the use of substances that contain, release or cause to be released greenhouse gases, if alternatives are available.” In other words, anything is possible, but I don’t see green-clad thugs locking folks up for selling Flowmasters anytime soon. Or maybe I really do just hate the aftermarket. Either way, between this, Governor Kulongoski’s pay-per-mile scheme and our beefed-up speeding laws, car lovers are beginning to hate Oregon. Which means our great driving roads will be less crowded for me. Or something.
That is un-American, and Governor Ted Kulongoski should be impeached accordingly.
Why not go after all of the Carbon Dioxide emitted from the hot air spewing out of Kulongoski’s mouth every time he thinks up another hare-brained scheme to try and get rid of cars?
So everyone is going to be stuck with those hard as a rock tires that are on the Prius, and you wouldn’t be able to put grippy tires on a car because of a slight greenhouse gas increase. If this passes, freedom is officially dead in this country.
No, the dubs will stay. Gigantic wheels reduce the final drive ratio – that means less RPMs at any given speed, and that means less emissions.
That’s the only thing gigantic wheels are good for – other than that, they look ghastly.
-ted
Complete crap.
I’ve never driven low rolling resistance tires that felt safe in the wet… or even in the dry.
I’d like to see an NHTSA report on how badly vehicles perform in lane-change tests and braking when they mandate fuel saving tires for the entire country.
Fuel economy and emission reduction? He probably just hates ricers and SEMA….a lot.
“damn youngsters and their bass thumping! I’ll fix em.”
Autos really are more trouble than they are worth for trying to reduce greenhouse gasses. Something like 70-80% of greenhouse gas emissions are from industry such as factories and coal fired power plants. Those polluters are the “low hanging fruit” that should be gone after, if anyone.
“Autos really are more trouble than they are worth for trying to reduce greenhouse gasses. Something like 70-80% of greenhouse gas emissions are from industry such as factories and coal fired power plants. Those polluters are the “low hanging fruit” that should be gone after, if anyone.”
Unfortunately they, unlike companies in the autobiz, make big-time donations to public hook…er, officials.
If an industry wants to avoid getting on politicians’ bad sides, it needs to open its wallet. Wide.
Micromanagement. Instead of all this bs Oregon should enact a carbon tax, and put a special carbon-equvalent tax on cows for their methane emissions.
Since when is the car industry not a big “donator” ?
Any sort of “emissions” tax on livestock is a stupid idea. If you want to see the livestock industry in this nation die in short order, go right ahead.
As an owner of a Chrysler 300 on 22’s and S550 on 20’s… I SAY NAY
this is ridiculous. Many companies such as GM and Ford are making their cars with OEM 20’s and 22’s. Is a cop really ready to make those observations on the spot?
And since when the fuck did OREGON have greenhouse gas emmission problems?
Flashpoint: Since all those coal emissions blow across the ocean from China and ruin their air quality. /end totally unresearched probably false reasoning.
zerofoo :
1. If the tire/wheel assembly does not change circumference it will not reduce fuel consumption.
2. In all likelihood larger heavier wheels will increase the rotational mass of the drivetrain. Thus to achieve the same rate of acceleration possible with lighter wheels/tires more energy is required meaning more fuel needs to be burned… worse fuel consumption.
The evidence that glacer melt was being driven by Volcanic activity is so convincing that even the NYT had to report it.
Perhaps banning the incremental heat generated from the aftermarket wheel casting will be the fallback position after this CO2 panic runs its course.