A number of governments have already begun to recognize the threat that lead pollution from wheel weight degradation poses to human health and the environment. Japan has called for a drastic voluntary reduction in the use of lead in vehicles, and Nissan and Toyota have both responded. Nissan has stated that it will reduce most uses of lead in vehicles by fully two-thirds by 2005, and Toyota has called the reduction of lead use in its vehicles an "urgent objective." The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) aims to cut all uses of lead, excepting batteries, to one-third of 1996 levels by 2005. Perhaps most significantly, the European Union has amended its directive on end-of-life vehicles to ban the use of leaded wheel weights by 2005. This ban applies to all vehicle types approved before July 1st, 2003, and to the wheel weights intended for servicing those vehicles. The ban will be reviewed for its impact on road safety prior to taking hold, but promises to eliminate the threat that leaded wheel weights pose and replace them with more environmentally responsible alternatives in Europe.
A variety of alternatives have been considered, including the use of tin, steel, tungsten, plastic (thermoplastic polypropylene), and Zinc or ZAMA (an alloy of zinc, aluminum, and copper). Internal beads made of steel, plastic, and glass are in use today, although primarily intended for the use in American trucks and commercial vehicles. The beads are injected into the tire and allowed to roll around inside it, balancing the vehicle while driving. However, the beads are primarily effective only in larger vehicles, and their disadvantages have prevented wider use. Although one company (Counteract Balancing) has started to develop and provide a product for passenger vehicles.