The Ecology Center has released its second Lead-Free Wheels Survey of new vehicles. Lead wheel balancing weights represent one of the largest ongoing uses of lead in the world. The survey of new 2006/2007 model year vehicles showed that while many automakers have aggressively phased out lead wheel balancing, some automakers have made no progress (Chrysler) and zero aftermarket tire retailers have committed to phasing out lead wheel weights.
"Lead wheel weights falling off cars and trucks is one of the last major, unregulated sources of lead pollution in the U.S.," said Jeff Gearhart, Campaign Director of the Ecology Center. "This survey shows that lead free wheel balancing is a cost effective way to reduce the use of lead in vehicles. Anyone who installs tires needs to get on the bandwagon."
Based on the results of the 2006 survey, the Ecology Center estimates that approximately 50% of the new cars sold in the US at the end of 2006 had lead-free wheel weights. This accounts for approximately 68 million lead-free wheel weights on new cars in 2006. This represents a 79% increase over 2004 when the Ecology Center estimated 38 million wheel weight were installed on new vehicles. These weights eliminated the use of over 1,500 tons of lead on vehicles in the US.
Methodology
The Lead-Free Wheels Program is conducting an onging survey at auto dealerships in SE Michigan to determine which new vehicles are using lead-free wheel balancing. The previous survey was conducted in 2004 and listed 28 new vehicles using lead-free wheel balancing. The new survey, which was completed in the fall of 2006, now includes 115 vehicles.
The use of steel balancing weighs is verified magnetically. The use of zinc weights has been verified through discussion with automotive and wheel weight manufacturers. We were not able to determine weight type on some vehicles and therefore they are not listed as using lead-free wheel balancing.
Vehicles For Sale in the U.S. with Lead-free Wheel Weights
| Manufacturer | Make/Model | Lead-free weight type | |
| Audi | Audi A3 | Zn | |
| Audi | Audi A4 | Zn | |
| Audi | Audi A6 | Zn | |
| Audi | Audi A8 | Zn | |
| Audi | Audi Allroad | Zn | |
| Audi | Audi TT | Zn | |
| BMW | BMW 325 | Zn | |
| BMW | BMW 330 | Zn | |
| BMW | BMW 525 | Zn | |
| BMW | BMW 530 | Zn | |
| BMW | BMW 745 | Zn | |
| BMW | BMW 750 | Zn | |
| BMW | BMW X3 | Zn | |
| BMW | BMW X5 | Zn | |
| BMW | BMW Z4 | Zn | |
| Ford | Lincoln Mark LT | Fe | |
| GM | Buick Lacrosse | Fe | |
| GM | Buick Rainier | Fe | |
| GM | Buick Rendezvous | Fe | |
| GM | Cadillac CTS | Fe | |
| GM | Cadillac DTS | Fe | |
| GM | Cadillac Escalade | Fe | |
| GM | Cadillac STS | Fe | |
| GM | Cadillac XLR | Fe | |
| GM | Chevrolet Astro | Fe | |
| GM | Chevrolet Avalanche | Fe | |
| GM | Chevrolet Cavalier | Fe | |
| GM | Chevrolet Cobalt | Fe | |
| GM | Chevrolet Corvette | Fe | |
| GM | Chevrolet Impala | Fe | |
| GM | Chevrolet Malibu | Fe | |
| GM | Chevrolet Monte Carlo | Fe | |
| GM | Chevrolet Silverado | Fe | |
| GM | Chevrolet Suburban | Fe | |
| GM | Chevrolet Trailblazer | Fe | |
| GM | Chevrolet Venture | Fe | |
| GM | Pontiac GTO | Fe | |
| GM | Pontiac Torrent | Fe | |
| GM | Saab 9-3 | Zn | |
| GM | Saab 9-5 | Zn | |
| GM | Saab 9-7 | Zn | |
| GM | Saturn Aura | Fe | |
| Honda | Acura TL | Fe | |
| Honda | Acura TSX | Fe | |
| Honda | CRV| | Fe | |
| Honda | Honda Pilot | Fe | |
| Hyundai | Azera | Fe | |
| Hyundai | Elantra | Fe | |
| Hyundai | Eutourage Ltd | Fe | |
| Hyundai | Santa Fe | Fe | |
| Hyundai | Sonata | Fe | |
| Hyundai | Tucson V6 | Fe | |
| Mazda | CX-7 | Fe | |
| Mazda | Mazda 3 | Fe | |
| Mazda | Mazda 5 | Fe | |
| Mazda | Mazda 6 | Fe | |
| Mazda | MX-5 Miata | Fe | |
| Mazda | RX-8 | Fe | |
| Mercedes | Mercedes Bens CL | Zn | |
| Mercedes | Mercedes Benz C | Zn | |
| Mercedes | Mercedes Benz CLS | Zn | |
| Mercedes | Mercedes Benz E | Zn | |
| Mercedes | Mercedes Benz G | Zn | |
| Mercedes | Mercedes Benz ML | Zn | |
| Mercedes | Mercedes Benz R | Zn | |
| Mercedes | Mercedes Benz S | Zn | |
| Mercedes | Mercedes Benz SL | Zn | |
| Mercedes | Mercedes Benz SLK | Zn | |
| Nissan | Nissan 350z | Zn | |
| Nissan | Nissan Altima | Zn | |
| Nissan | Nissan Frontier | Zn | |
| Nissan | Nissan Maxima | Zn | |
| Nissan | Nissan Murano | Zn | |
| Nissan | Nissan Pathfinder | Zn | |
| Nissan | Nissan Quest | Zn | |
| Nissan | Nissan Titan | Zn | |
| Nissan | Nissan Xterra | Zn | |
| Porsche | Porsche 911 | Zn | |
| Porsche | Porsche Boxter | Zn | |
| Porsche | Porsche Cayenne | Zn | |
| Porsche | Porsche Cayman | Zn | |
| Subaru | Subaru B9 Tribeca | Zn | |
| Subaru | Subaru Baja | Zn | |
| Subaru | Subaru Forester | Zn | |
| Subaru | Subaru Impreza | Fe | |
| Subaru | Subaru Legacy | Zn | |
| Suzuki | Suzuki Aerio | Fe | |
| Suzuki | Suzuki Forenza | Fe | |
| Suzuki | Suzuki Grand Vitara | Fe | |
| Suzuki | Suzuki SX-4 | Fe | |
| Suzuki | Suzuki XL-7 | Fe | |
| Toyota | Toyota Avalon | Zn | |
| Toyota | Toyota Camry | Zn | |
| Toyota | Toyota Echo | Zn | |
| Toyota | Toyota Matrix | Fe | |
| Toyota | Toyota MR2 Spyder | Zn | |
| Toyota | Toyota Prius | Zn | |
| Toyota | Toyota Rav4 | Fe | |
| Toyota | Toyota Sienna | Zn | |
| Toyota | Toyota Solara | Fe | |
| Toyota | Toyota Tacoma | Zn | |
| Toyota | Toyota Tundra | Zn | |
| Volvo | Volvo 40 | Zn | |
| Volvo | Volvo 50 | Zn | |
| Volvo | Volvo 60 | Zn | |
| Volvo | Volvo 70 | Zn | |
| Volvo | Volvo V50 | Zn | |
| Volvo | Volvo V70 | Zn | |
| Volvo | Volvo XC70 | Zn | |
| Volvo | Volvo XC90 | Zn | |
| VW | VW Beetle | Fe | |
| VW | VW GTI | Zn | |
| VW | VW Jetta | Zn | |
| VW | VW Passat | Zn | |
| VW | VW Touareg | Zn | |
Updates
This list will be periodically updated. Manufacturers are welcome to submit updates or corrections.