In August 2007, the Center for Environmental Health (CEH), a public interest group in California, began notifying lead wheel weight manufacturers and car manufacturers of its intent to file suit for alleged violations against Proposition 65. Passed in 1986, Prop 65 states that manufacturers may face stiff penalties for any actions that threaten the safety of California’s drinking water. The CEH contends that lead weights being thrown from wheels end up on the roads where they are flattened and abraded by traffic. Water run-off carries these lead particles away, increasing the potential for lead contamination in the water supply.

The Center for Environmental Health’s actions were based on a study conducted by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). According to the USGS, approximately 65,000 tons of lead wheel weights are in use on cars and trucks in the United States. The USGS study estimated that at least 3% of these lead wheel weights become detached or fall off during normal vehicle operation. The study indicated that these discarded weights are then subject to being dissipated into the environment by wind and water.

In August 2008, a settlement in California was reached protecting automobile manufacturers, wheel weight manufacturers and their customers (installers, distributors, etc), providing that all parties comply with certain conditions. The settlement resolves all CEH claims of Prop 65 violations for lead wheel weights shipped into California prior to December 31, 2009. This means that all parties must cease using, installing, selling or distributing wheel weights in California that contain lead by December 31, 2009, or risk legal action.

Other states have taken action to replace lead with non-lead alternatives. In January 2008, the state of Maine began notifying independent shops servicing state vehicles that they would be required to use only non-lead weights on state vehicles. The state of Massachusetts and municipalities such as Ann Arbor, Michigan and Blacksburg, Virginia also took action in seeking alternatives to lead for city fleet vehicles.

Beginning in 2007, the legislature in Washington State has a bill under consideration to ban lead weights throughout the state. 

To provide a solution compliant with non-lead weight mandates, Mighty now offers a comprehensive steel and zinc clip-on wheel weight program. Adhesive steel weights are also available in strips and rolls. This program offers the same product that has been adopted by automotive manufacturers such as Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda and Mitsubishi. The European market, as well as Chrysler, has adopted zinc as an alternative, whereas Ford, GM and the Japanese market have approved steel weights. The material used in non-lead weights can be identified by its scientific symbol as shown in the illustration below. 

As awareness for environmentally friendly products grow, it is certain that more U.S. states will move to adopt non-lead wheel weights. With European countries banning the use of lead and Japanese auto manufacturers voluntarily switching from lead, it’s not a question of “if” the United States will move to ban lead in wheel weights, it’s more a question of when. 

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