Effects of Studded Tires on Pavement Wear and Traffic Safety

IN T R O D U C T IO N The question of whether the use of metal studs in automobile tires should be permitted as an aid to winter driving has been a highly controversial issue in Minnesota for a number of years. The state leg­ islature in biennial sessions had legalized their use on Minnesota roads and streets for six successive winters from October 1965 through May 1971. But during its last session, in 1971, the legislature did not renew the permissive legislation, thus reverting to the previous old law under which studs were prohibited. However, at the same time a new statute was enacted which granted to nonresidents of Minnesota the privilege of driving in the state with studs up to 30 days in a calendar year. The 1969 legislature had directed the Minnesota Commissioner of Highways to conduct a study of pavement wear and traffic safety as affected by studded tires and to report to the 1971 legislature to assist it in making a determination as to its source of action on future legis­ lation. The Minnesota Highway Department undertook extensive re­ search both with its own personnel and through contract agreements with outside agencies, and the results were reported to the legislature in May 1971. Preliminary descriptions of these research efforts were reported at the Purdue Road School in 1970. Additional results of research studies are reported below.