Skip to Primary Navigation Skip to Site Navigation Skip to Main Content
3M™ Wheel Weights - Lose the Lead

Lead-Free Legislation
for Wheel Weights

Federal ban on lead wheel weights?
Not yet, but we may be a step closer. The Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) approved a resolution on April 15, 2011, asking the EPA to enact a permanent ban by 2013. Read the details here. http://www.ecos.org/files/4392 file 08 9 Lead Wheel Weights 2011 version.doc

3M wants to keep you informed about lead-free legislation that affects you. Click on the name of a state to see what's happening now and to avoid potential penalties. Then sign up to receive our regular updates.

3M wants to keep you informed about lead-free legislation that affects you. Sign up to receive our regular updates.

3M is a charter member of the EPA's National Lead
Free Wheel Weight Initiative. Having never
manufactured lead weights, 3M is committed to
creating solutions with less impact on the environment.

See what the EPA is saying about lead weights.

Lead-Free Legislation for Wheel Weights

Click on the name of a state to see what's happening with lead-free wheel weight legislation.

This information is intended as a basic overview and general guidance on lead-free wheel weight legislation. Please see links for more details.

Click on the name of a state to see what's happening with Lead Wheel Weight legislation.

Maryland

Effective
Restrictions of Lead Use
Status
Reference
Penalties
1/1/2012
Ensure State vehicle fleet is free from using wheel weights containing more than 0.1% lead
Introduced, not enacted
HB 18
None specified
1/1/2013
Prohibit sale or use of wheel weights containing more than 0.1% lead on all used vehicles
Introduced, not enacted
HB 18
Up to $1000 per offense after warning
1/1/2014
Prohibit sale or use of wheel weights containing more than 0.1% lead on all new vehicles
Introduced, not enacted
HB 18
Up to $1000 per offense after warning

Maryland Wheel Weight Bill

Rhode Island

Effective
Restrictions of Lead Use
Status
Reference
Penalties
None specified
Prohibit sale, distribution or use of lead wheel weights
Introduced
H 7664
None specified
None specified
Prohibit sale of motor vehicles with lead wheel weights
Introduced
H 7664
None specified

Rhode Island Wheel Weight Act (PDF, 7 Kb)

Virginia

Effective
Restrictions of Lead Use
2006
City of Blacksburg – phase out lead wheel weights on city vehicles

Maine

Effective
Restrictions of Lead Use
Status
Reference
Penalties
1/1/2011
Prohibit sale, distribution or use of wheel weights containing lead or mercury
Enacted
LD986
None specified
1/1/2012
Prohibit sale of a new vehicle with wheel weights containing lead or mercury
Enacted
LD986
None specified

Maine Wheel Weight Act (PDF, 10 Kb)

Vermont

Effective
Restrictions of Lead Use
Status
Reference
Penalties
1/1/2010
Prohibit use of lead wheel weights on state vehicles
Enacted
193
None specified
1/1/2012
Prohibit use of lead wheel weights on any new motor vehicle sold
Enacted
193
None specified

Vermont Wheel Weight Act

New York

Effective
Restrictions of Lead Use
Status
Reference
Penalties
4/1/2011
Prohibit sale, distribution or use of wheel weights containing more than 0.1% lead on all used vehicles
Enacted
A08687B
None specified
4/1/2012
Prohibit sale of a new vehicle with wheel weights containing more than 0.1% lead
Enacted
A08687B
None specified

New York Wheel Weight Bill

Michigan

Effective
Restrictions of Lead Use
2004
City of Ann Arbor – phase out lead wheel weights on city vehicles

Illinois

Effective
Restrictions of Lead Use
Status
Reference
Penalties
1/1/2012
Prohibit sale or distribution of wheel weights containing 0.1% lead
Enacted
SB3347
None specified
1/1/2012
Prohibit sale of a new vehicle with wheel weights containing 0.1% lead
Enacted
SB3347
None specified

Illinois Wheel Weight Bill

Iowa

Effective
Restrictions of Lead Use
Status
Reference
Penalties
7/1/2010
Prohibit on sale of vehicles or while servicing, repair or maintenance of vehicles
Introduced
HF384
None specified

Iowa Wheel Weight Bill (PDF, 40 Kb)

Wisconsin

Effective
Restrictions of Lead Use
Status
Reference
Penalties
13 months after publication
Prohibit sale, distribution or use of lead wheel weights on motor vehicles
Circulating
LRB 1594 and 2187
None specified

Minnesota

Effective
Restrictions of Lead Use
Status
2004
Replace wheel weights with those not containing lead or mercury when servicing vehicles under state contract
Voluntary

California

Effective
Restrictions of Lead Use
Status
Reference
Penalties
1/1/2010
Prohibit manufacture, sale or installation of lead wheel weights
Enacted
25215.6 and 25215.7
Up to $2500 per day per violation

California Fact Sheet (PDF, 93 Kb)

California Wheel Weight Code

Washington

Effective
Restrictions of Lead Use
Status
Reference
Penalties
1/1/2011
Anyone replacing or balancing wheels must replace lead wheel weights with environmentally preferred weights
Enacted
1033 (2009)
Up to $500 for first incident, and up to $1000 for each succeeding violation

Washington Wheel Weight Bill (PDF, 18 Kb)

Kentucky

Effective
Restrictions of Lead Use
2010
City of Lexington – begin eliminating lead wheel weights on city vehicles

More sources:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Update on Rulemaking, August 2009

"States Offer Model Approaches for Phasing Out Lead Wheel Weights in the Environment," August 2009, Environmental Council of the States

Lead-Free Wheels, a Project of the Ecology Center

Maryland Rhode Island Virginia Maine Vermont New York Michigan Illinois Iowa Wisconsin Minnesota California Washington Kentucky