I can’t say it should be illegal, because undoubtedly some people do need to use studded tires.

But the average intra-city driver does not need studs in their tires. Why people in St. John’s are adamant to have studs when they are driving on slush-cover asphalt is beyond me.

If wearing studs was neutral to city infrastructure I wouldn’t mind. But it’s not!

Studded tires cause severe damage to roadways when under regular use.

They are banned in some states in the US because of the damage they cause compared to the relative safety benefits they provide. Studded tires only perform better directly on snow or ice and have less traction when on asphalt.

“Pavement ruts caused by increased wear from studded tires can cause the dangerous conditions of trammeling, hydroplaning on accumulated water in the ruts, excessive road spray, and premature damage to pavement markings.”

To top it off cars with studded tires require as much as 1.2 to 15% more gas than cars without which contributes poorly to the environment.

It is still a matter of great debate between the advantages and disadvantages of using studded tires, but those who use them tend to contend they are safer. Studies show that radial tires actually offer comparable safety without all of the asphalt damage.

I rant about this today because it is clear that studded tires have become very popular and you can see it in the roads of St. John’s. There aren’t many roads in the city right now that aren’t adversely affected by the use of studded tires.

People who use studded tires should be subjected to a tax that goes to pay for fixing the roads they destroy.

From Washington.edu: Studded Tire Information
From Tire Information World: Studded Tire Report

Rants Radial Tires, Roads, St. John's, Studded Tires