Lead Free Wheels

The Ecology Center has estimated that 1,600 metric tons of lead is released each year onto U.S. roadways from wheel weights that fall off during use. Lead Free Wheels is a program that targets independent tire dealers, full service repair facilities, service stations and state government fleets for adoption of alternative wheel weights. The program provides cost buy down assistance to cover the cost difference (if any) between lead and lead free wheel balancing weights. The Ecology Center also provides promotional assistance to program partners to highlight the environmental benefits of the service that the companies are providing. To source the lead-free wheel weights, the project is initially working directly with manufacturers in other countries – primarily in the U.K., Germany, Japan and Canada – to supply alternative weights to the participating tire service businesses.

The "Lead Free Wheels" program has three goals:

- direct reduction of 6,000-7,500 kg of lead use on vehicles in Michigan and the Midwest;
- demonstrate the viability of lead-free wheel weight installation at Michigan tire retailers, state and municipal fleets and other points vehicle service and:
- encourage domestic production of lead-free wheel weights and a phase out of lead use in wheel weights.

The State of Minnesota is replacing lead wheel-balancing weights on state fleet vehicles with lead-free alternatives. The City of Ann Arbor, Michigan has started replacing lead wheel balancing weights with lead-free alternatives in vehicles that are in the city fleet. Individual retailers such as Main Street Tire & Auto of Vancouver, Washington have also agreed to switch to lead-free weights.