Time to go studless

Bravo to Sen. Chris Marr for speaking out about studded tires. It’s time to remove studded tires from state highways and city streets. The road damage is extremely costly and the resultant ruts created by studs are a safety hazard. There will be many people like Rep. Joel Kretz who are unconvinced that they can get along without metal traction assist. I suggest that many are people who simply need to use more common sense and caution when taking to winter roads or refrain from driving on those few days when ice is on the road.

While studded tires may have been of value years ago, the dynamics of today’s auto technology, combined with improved tire performance, make studs unnecessary and obsolete. All-wheel drive, front-wheel drive, stability management systems and ABS brakes all contribute to improved driving on winter roads. The availability of “studless” winter tires and high-performance, all-season tires provide today’s drivers with extremely effective traction and good safe-driving alternatives to road-damaging studs.

Sen. Marr may also need the cooperation of tire dealers who can use their product knowledge and influence to convince their customers that they can safely go studless.

Bernie Korth

Spokane