Last Day To Get Studded Tires Off Your Car

Last day to remove your studded snow tires in Washington, if you didn't get the memo that this mild winter didn't require them. Or if you just haven't had time.

After today, you risk a $124 fine if caught driving with them on. You could be paying a fee to use them in the future too. Bills introduced in the state House and Senate (one introduced by Andy Billig, D-Spokane) this session would require a permit to use studs.

The Seattle Times has more info on why these bills probably won't succeed, and a new report on how damage studded tires actually do to our streets.

Legislature to Consider Two New Studded Tire Bills

The Washington State Legislature is taking on the question of studded tires once again. Sponsors are
hoping that, if passed, two proposed bills will recoup some of the costs to repair damage to our roads caused by studded tires.

HB 1653 would impose an annual $100-per-vehicle permit and a $500 fine. SB 5610 calls for a $75 permit and a $75 fine. Both bills steer the money back to road maintenance. A motorist who still wanted to use studded tires would purchase and place a sticker on the rear license plate. For easy detection, the background color of the permit would change each year.

An editorial in the Spokesman-Review this week says the newspaper supports an annual permit for use of studded tires. The article can be found here.

Are Studded Snow Tires Losing Traction In Public Opinion?

There's a lot of debate over just how badly studded tires damage our roadways. But it may not be an issue much longer. Results from a recent survey show that most people make a conscious effort not to buy studded snow tires.

The survey also showed a difference in opinion on studded tires between the east and west sides of Washington state. And between age groups, with younger people using studs much more than older drivers. But why?

The Spokesman-Review has more on the poll.

Letter Writer Says Idaho Roads Better Despite More Studded Tire Use

Spokesman-Review Letter to the Editor
Studs Unfairly Maligned

It must be spring. The weather is warmer, the flowers are blooming and the biannual pastime of bashing studded tires continues for another season.

Now, don’t get me wrong, Spokanites enjoy a good kvetch. Who am I to deny them of that? But it’s May. I was willing to let sleeping tire-haters lie until the issue was dredged up, so here we go again.

Being from Idaho, I’d just like to point something out. Idaho permits studs for two months longer than Washington. So if there were a true correlation between bad roads and studs, you’d think Idaho roads would be virtually nonexistent by now. Yet it’s downtown Spokane that appears to have suffered an orbital bombardment (Monroe/Lincoln anyone?), not downtown Coeur d’Alene.

I don’t need a state border sign; I can feel the difference, mainly because I’m not falling into those mineshafts the Washington Department of Transportation laughingly calls potholes. In fairness, Idaho probably has fewer drivers and more four-wheel-drive vehicles. But there’s no denying that the roads are better in a state with increased studded tire usage.

Seems like the studs aren’t the cause. So can we put the issue to rest? At least until November?

Chris Reichert
Athol

Well this is a take on the subject that I've never heard before. Thoughts anyone?

Letter Writer Blames Studs For Condition of North Foothills/Hamilton Intersection

Spokesman-Review Letter to the EditorStudded tires the culprit

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Regarding Ray Moss’ letter on the condition of the intersection at North Foothills Drive and Hamilton Street. He purports poor concrete. Nonsense. It’s poor judgment on the part of inexperienced drivers who mask their inept driving ability with studded tires.
Eventually, the concrete has to succumb to the superior strength of the hardened steel studs. Therefore, he sees the result and, of course, being a logical person, can bring judgment against studs.
Dary Liepelt
Colbert

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Regarding Ray Moss’ letter on the condition of the intersection at North Foothills Drive and Hamilton Street. He purports poor concrete. Nonsense. It’s poor judgment on the part of inexperienced drivers who mask their inept driving ability with studded tires.
Eventually, the concrete has to succumb to the superior strength of the hardened steel studs. Therefore, he sees the result and, of course, being a logical person, can bring judgment against studs.
 
Dary Liepelt
Colbert

Thanks for saying it Mr. Liepelt so I don't have to. With lots of issues with our transportation infrastructure, and few ways to fund fixing them, we're going to have to take a look at issues like studded tires and weigh the pros and cons of still using them.

Editorial Calls Proposed Fee Too Permissive

An editorial in the Spokesman-Review yesterday calls for stiffer fees for using snow tires than the proposed $15 fee included in the Senate transportation budget passed last Friday.


45% of the money raised from that fee would go toward maintenance and repair of state roads. But the article says that's not enough. The City of Spokane alone estimats its annual stud-related repair costs are almost $5 million, which would come nowhere close to being covered by a $15 fee.
So what does the Editorial Board propose? Find out here.

Senator Billig Proposes Bill To Charge Fee To Use Studded Tires

A shoutout to Senator Andy Billig, from right here in Spokane, for co-sponsoring a bill that would require a permit for using studded tires. The annual fee would be $75. The bill requires the fee be used for highway preservation related to damage caused by studded tires. I'll track this bill and keep you updated.