VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) — The winter driving season has officially arrived with studded tires becoming legal Tuesday on roadways in Washington and Oregon.
They can roll right through March despite the ruts and other damage they do to pavement without ice or snow.
One study by the Washington Transportation Department estimated damage at $18 million a year. One Oregon Transportation Department study put one year’s damage at $40 million.
A past president of the Northwest Tire Dealers, John Carver of Tires Inc. in Chehalis, told The Columbian (http://bit.ly/s4dJ5R) he expects studded tires will eventually be banned. He says there are plenty of options because of advances in winter tires.
