Studded tires have metal pins that protrude from the tire to grip icy roads, but can damage pavement and cause safety issues. They were popularized in Scandinavia and the US, but have been banned in some countries and states due to pavement damage and air pollution.
Vehicle tires that have metal studs or “studs” protruding from them are called studded tires. Since tires are made with different tread depths, their studs vary in length. Studs generally consist of tungsten carbide pins encased within a cylindrical metal part that is held in the tire by a flange. It’s the studs that stick out of the tire and cut into the ice on the road, and it chips on the pavement. Typically, 60 to 120 studs are inserted into the tread of each tire.
Studded tires have been around in various forms since the late 19th century. Modern versions of the tires became popular in the Scandinavian countries to make it easier and safer to drive on snowy and icy roads. Beginning in the 1960s, studded tires came into widespread use in the United States. The tires were thought to make driving safer because of the way the metal pins dug into the ice and caused enough friction to prevent slipping and sliding.
During the 1970s, research engineers noted the safety issues associated with the use of such tires, as well as the damage they cause to pavement. As a result, studded tires underwent technical improvements during that decade and into the 1990s. Some states in the US have restricted the use of studded tires to the winter driving season or have banned them altogether due to to pavement damage and safety issues. Countries like Germany, Belgium and Japan have also banned its use. In the case of Japan, metal studded tires were banned in part because dust from damaged concrete caused significant air pollution along its roads during the winter months.
Studded tires can cause ruts in the pavement when studs poke into the road or road surface, especially when a driver is going fast on the highway or highway. This means that when it rains, there may be a hydroplaning hazard. Before studded tires were banned in various countries and US states, citizens had to pay many millions in taxes every year to try to keep the roads and highways in good and safe condition. The extent of damage caused by the use of studded tires depends on the length of the stud, how heavy the studs are, the number of studs per tire, the type of pavement surface, and the speed of the vehicle.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
