Studs Pave Way For Debate
The Bill of Rights does not cover studded tires, but the debate over banning them is as fierce as the one over gun control.
“Get rid of the damn things,” urges Bill Young of Spokane. “I’ve used nothing but winter radial tires that are siped since they became available. I used to commute 20 miles each way every day from Chattaroy to the town of Spokane and I never had a problem in all kinds of weather.”
“You can’t put a price on my health,” said Sheri Hanson, Spokane. “If things have to be considered, I want my safety to be foremost.”
Mike Wirt, Spokane: “I grew up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan where there is more snow and ice than anyone in Eastern Washington ever imagined. Michigan didn’t allow studded tires because of the damage they cause to roads and highways. They still don’t. I managed quite well in the nine years that I drove there.”
Harve Clark, Spokane: “I don’t think it’s the studs that are doing the damage on Interstate 90 as much as it is the 80,000-pound GVW trucks. State Highway 904, from Four Lakes to Cheney, has a ton of traffic every day. Yet, you take a look at that road and there’s hardly any damage at all. One big difference - hardly any big rigs.”
Mark Starr, Spokane, suggests more durable paving material. “I just came back from a three-week trip in Iowa where all their roads, residential or highways, are concrete and they do not have all the cracking, potholes, resurface-every-two-to-three-years problem that we have.”
Kevin M. Connolly, Spokane: “Let’s try an approach to winter driving that has been proved effective. Let’s all slow down. I believe most drivers get a false sense of security with studded tires.”
Charles E. McCollim, Spokane: “If the city would plow before the snow gets ‘knee high to a giraffe,’ it might help.”
Chuck Logsdon, Spokane: “It is time to outlaw studded tires. There are excellent alternatives.”
Gary Challender, Spokane: “I’ve driven for 30 years without them, and I’ve never had any problems.”
Paul Warner, Spokane: “They probably do contribute to deterioration in the roads, but I think an increase in security is well worth that.”
Ann Baker, Spokane: “It’s easier to repair highways than it is to repair a person.”
Frances Horn, Spokane: “I live near Tower Mountain. I must have studded snow tires to get up and down this mountain.”
New schedule
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