this post was submitted on 16 Jan 2026
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get studded tires
Proper winter tires in the worst of conditions are 99% what you need.
Studs come in to play in rare situations.
Source: grew up driving on ice all winter. Not "snow", just ice. Eventually found Nokian Haakapaliita tires (Finnish), even the worst over-powered, open-diff, FWD car suddenly goes (and turns, and stops) in the worst conditions.
I refuse to use any other tire for winter.
70% of cars here use studded tires. they're very useful in wet ice or black ice conditions, which happen a lot here.
Why do my taxes keep going up to fix the roads? I guess we'll never know.
probably because they do it wrong
studded tires are a legal requirement here in some parts of the country and the roads are no worse for it
https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/42626/dot_42626_DS1.pdf
https://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/Programs/ResearchDocuments/SPR304-671_StuddedTires_FINAL.pdf
https://wsdot.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2021-10/Studded-Tire-Damage-To-Asphalt.pdf
And yet study after study shows millions of dollars of damage.
here the main takeaway from studies is that the fewer cars have studded tires, the smoother the road surface becomes, which increases the amount of accidents in bad weather. if less than 50% of cars use studded tires the roads become too smooth in winter.
https://www.tidningendacksnack.se/teknik/e/1272/dubbdackens-roll-och-paverkan-en-balansgang-mellan-sakerhet-och-miljo/
Is there any difference if people use tire chains instead of studded tires?
chains are worse for the road and can also come loose at high speed. they're for getting unstuck, not for general driving.
Sorry, but American statistics aren't fully relevant to their comment. Sweden has much more rigorous laws and controls regarding tires, and a particular difference is also rules regarding the stud length and depth.
Yes, our studded tires still damage the roads a bit more than "normal" tires, but it's not an astronomical difference. The lifesaving and healthcare costs associated with studded tires weighs significantly higher. Your life is considered much more expendable in the US as well, so of course they say you shouldn't use studded tires on ice... whereas our government research institute says you absolutely should.
I also assume the US uses really cheap asfalt or something? Or because of higher speed limits? Worse driving styles: intensive speed changes instead of calm tempo driving? Despite like 65% of cars using studded tires here, I've seen less road work here in my entire life than during a single year in the US. Dunno.
If you've got hate in your heart let it out
Huh? I'm confused, where exactly was I hateful?
Disappointed, perhaps? Especially considering that the only two accidents I've been in during my entire life have been idiots with "ice and snow" (non-studded) tyres ice-skating into the back of my car.
Because they are spending it on roads, not public transit.