VANCOUVER, Wash. — The winter driving season has officially arrived with studded tires becoming legal to use on Tuesday on roadways in Washington and Oregon.
They can roll right through March despite the ruts and other damage they do to pavement bare of ice or snow.
While many drivers use studded tires in icier Eastern Washington and the snowy mountains, studs may not be the best choice in the milder west side, said Washington Transportation Department spokeswoman Alice Fiman.
“It’s just really not a good idea to buy something that’s only going to be used a limited amount of time,” Fiman told The Columbian.
“You really just need to think about what the majority of your travel will include,” she said. “Having (studs) for three trips over the mountain isn’t really a good decision. Those tires are going to be on your car all winter.”
The Washington study showed that the purchase of studded tires had dropped dramatically from the 1990s to early 2000s. Several legislative efforts to ban them in Washington failed in the 1980s and 1990s. In Oregon, a petition now circulating could put a proposed ban to voters there as soon as next year.
John Carver, past president of the Northwest Tire Dealers Association, said he figures studded tires will be banned eventually. With “tremendous” advances in non-studded winter tires recently, there are plenty of other viable options out there, he said.
Carver, who works at Tires Inc. in Chehalis, estimated that about 25 percent of drivers there opt for studs in the winter. Many are simply used to having them in the winter, he said.
“Really, it’s driver preference — what they feel more comfortable with,” Carver said.
The Washington Transportation Department recommends carrying chains for winter driving. Studs alone don’t always pass muster in chain-up areas. Most tire companies offer studless snow tires, Carver said.
On wet, bare pavement, some studded tires can actually increase stopping distance compared to no-stud winter traction tires, Fiman said. It’s a good idea to consult with a local tire dealer to figure what the best option is for a given location and winter driving plans, she said.
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