SPOKANE, Wash. – The Washington State Commission has been attempting to ban studded tires for decades. This year’s proposal introduces a five-year plan to phase out the tires while generating millions of dollars to cover road repairs.
The commission is considering increasing the studded tire tax to $50, in hopes to pay for road repairs.
Jeremy Dierks, a tire expert with 30 years of experience, shared his perspective on the proposal.
“I’m sure you’ve heard of Highway 291. It’s a really steep hill; it’s a pretty short one, but very steep. A lot of accidents there, every year and a lot of people will drive studded tires out there just for that,” said Dierks.
Dierks remains neutral about the potential ban on studded tires.
“If they say you can’t do studs. Okay, well, we can’t do studs. I guess I don’t have to worry about that anymore,” he said.
Studded tires cause damage known as “raveling,” where asphalt and concrete wear away and surface ruts form. Dierks noted that November 1st typically marks the start of the studded tire installation season, a busy time for his business.
“25 to 30% of our annual business will all be in that month, in November. But that’s changed over the last few years with our climate as that snow comes later and later,” said Dierks.
However, the labor and materials involved in studding tires aren’t cheap.
“You have to pay a person to operate that machine, to stud the tires. And the cost of the studs themselves is pretty darn high. It costs about $20; wholesale cost to stud one tire,” he said.
Dierks also mentioned the technology needed when changing tires.
“You need a computer to talk to the car and tell it that you put different tires on. Otherwise, we’ll have a low tire light. So, most people don’t mess with that. They bring it to us and we do it,” he said.
Dierks noted that many of his inquiries about studded tires come from people moving into the state.
“Moving here from Florida, from Texas, from places, you know, that don’t have this climate, and they’re terrified of driving in it. They’re like… ‘I want studded tires.’ So, that’s what we sell them,” he said.
All-weather tires, according to Dierks, offer an efficient solution without needing to install and remove studded tires.
“A lot of the newer snow tires are so much softer and so much grippier and provide so much more traction,” he said.
Tire chains are also an option for snowy, elevated areas but are meant for temporary use.
“That’s not something that we’ve sold for 20 years plus. Mainly because they’re for emergency use. People will put them on and then they’ll drive full speed with them. Those can cause a lot of damage to the roads and a whole bunch of damage to your vehicle,” said Dierks.
The commission’s research indicates that studded tires are most effective on ice but unnecessary on snow, slush or wet pavement.
“Even with the best snow tires, nothing’s going to beat a metal spike digging into that ice. It’s just science, you know?” said Dierks.
If Washington imposes a ban on studded tires, it will join 15 other states across the U.S. with similar bans in place.
Click here to view The Washington State Commission’s fact sheet on studded tires.
