Studded Tires Cost Washington Taxpayers $18 Million
WASHINGTON STATE -- Action News learned just how much of your money is spent every year fixing the wear-and-tear left by studded tires.
It's a problem that's literally cutting into Washington's budget. Studded tires may scrape, scratch, and grind our highways, but as far as Susie Logan's concerned, they're also safe.
"It helps with ice. Going over hills and coming over the pass, we need them," she says.
Many others argue studded tires will skid on ice just like your rubber tires, but that rubber doesn't tear up the roads like studs do. In fact, Action News found last year alone, studded tires are blamed for more than $18 million in damage to state highways.
Transportation workers tell Action News most of that destruction happened along concrete roadways. It's pretty easy when you think about it: take a hard surface and then scratch it at 80 miles per hour and the result is a damaged roadway.
WSDOT say it time and time again: studded tires are only good for roads in rural areas that get a lot of snow and ice.
Two years ago, state lawmakers tried banning studded tires, but that bill never got off the ground. Given the state's current budget crisis, Action News wanted to know if there are any new plans to ban studded tires.
We left messages for representatives Doc Hastings and Norm Johnson, but they never got back to us.
Action News asks Logan, "Do you ever feel bad that you might be ruining the roads?" "No," she replied, "because it's better than ruining me."
In the end, not even $18 million and a bumpier ride is enough to sway people from their sense of safety.
Illinois, Minnesota, and Maryland are the only states that ban studded tires year-round.
Your studded tires need to be off your car by April 1st or you could get a ticket.
It's a problem that's literally cutting into Washington's budget. Studded tires may scrape, scratch, and grind our highways, but as far as Susie Logan's concerned, they're also safe.
"It helps with ice. Going over hills and coming over the pass, we need them," she says.
Many others argue studded tires will skid on ice just like your rubber tires, but that rubber doesn't tear up the roads like studs do. In fact, Action News found last year alone, studded tires are blamed for more than $18 million in damage to state highways.
Transportation workers tell Action News most of that destruction happened along concrete roadways. It's pretty easy when you think about it: take a hard surface and then scratch it at 80 miles per hour and the result is a damaged roadway.
WSDOT say it time and time again: studded tires are only good for roads in rural areas that get a lot of snow and ice.
Two years ago, state lawmakers tried banning studded tires, but that bill never got off the ground. Given the state's current budget crisis, Action News wanted to know if there are any new plans to ban studded tires.
We left messages for representatives Doc Hastings and Norm Johnson, but they never got back to us.
Action News asks Logan, "Do you ever feel bad that you might be ruining the roads?" "No," she replied, "because it's better than ruining me."
In the end, not even $18 million and a bumpier ride is enough to sway people from their sense of safety.
Illinois, Minnesota, and Maryland are the only states that ban studded tires year-round.
Your studded tires need to be off your car by April 1st or you could get a ticket.
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