Environment & Climate
California enforces lead wheel weight ban to curb environmental contamination
Regulations barring weights with more than 0.1 percent lead mandate substitutes like steel and zinc, carrying fines up to $2,500.
The short version
- California law prohibits automotive wheel weights containing more than 0.1 percent lead to prevent toxic runoff into soil and groundwater.
- Auto shops and vehicle owners must use alternatives such as steel, zinc, or copper during tire replacements and wheel balancing.
- Violations of the state regulation can result in fines of up to $2,500 per infraction.
Key facts
- California Health and Safety Code Sections 25215.6-25215.7 prohibit the sale or installation of wheel weights with more than 0.1 percent lead.[Jalopnik]
- The Environmental Protection Agency estimated that half a million pounds of lead were shed annually into California's environment from automotive wheel weights before the ban took effect.[Jalopnik]
- Shops caught installing or using non-compliant lead weights face penalties reaching up to $2,500.[Jalopnik]
- Service centers commonly use steel, zinc, and copper as replacements for lead balancing weights.[Jalopnik]
- As of 2023, eight other U.S. states have enacted comparable bans on lead wheel weights.[Jalopnik]