Lead wheel weights to be phased out in California by end of 2009

Stick-on Iron wheel weights. Lead wheel weights were banned by the European Union in 2005 and are being phased out in Japan and Korea. The EPA is sponsoring a voluntary initiative to reduce the use of lead wheel weights but has not banned them. Lead wheel weights, widely used to balance vehicle tires but considered a threat to drinking water, will be phased out in California by the end of next year under a court settlement approved Wednesday.