Studded tires in CO: why? (Denver, Monument: taxes, live in, legal)

[iowegian3]

I'll probably raise a stink with this topic, but with the poor condition of Colorado roads and the limited appetite to increase taxes (22¢ per gallon state tax, 13th lowest of the 50 states) it seems absurd to me as a proud alien* of this great state that you need someone from outside to help you figure out some things. (Although you should be wary of outside help...Doug Bruce is a fellow alien, even though I find most of his views patently alien.)

With studded tires Colorado wants to have its cake and eat it, too. Why on earth are they legal year round?

Minnesnowtans deal with every bit as much snow as most areas of Colorado. Yes, they get late winter snow, just like Denver. But you won't find a single stud on tires in the Twin Cities or anywhere else in the state. Studded tires are banned there. They got tired of the destruction to the roads.

If you want studded tires, they should be rubber studs only. You would only be able to use rubber studs year round if you're a resident of a mountainous county. Otherwise, they'd only permitted from October 15 to May 1.

Or, if you want to maintain the status quo re: studs, then either the state gas tax needs to go up 10¢/gal. or drivers will have to pay a $50 fee annually to be able to use studs.

Colorado = Missouri With Mountains, but with less common sense.

[tatanka01]

Are there really that many people using studs? I've lived here all my life (60 years) and the last time I heard someone say they were getting studded tires was probably in the 70's. I've never known anyone who used them in recent memory. Between the improved tires and better traction capabilities of cars these days, who needs 'em?

[sunsprit]

you raise a stink ... not because of your perspective on the state roads/taxes/"knowing disdain" for Colorado ...

but because you have a complete misconception of the driving conditions that present in Colorado which occur in the mountains as well as out on the plains during the winter months.

Colorado's roads don't frequently present "deep loose snow" ... but they do frequently present the conditions of "Black Ice", which is treacherously slick.

However, few folk drive with studded tires these days even if it is legal to do so. The numerous improvements in tire technology and rubber compounds for All Season or Winter spec tires of the last few decades predominate in the industry. The last years that I saw a lot of tires being studded was in the 1970's. Blizzak, Nordfrost, and a host of other tires which do very well in Colorado conditions are very popular. At that, many folk drive AWD and FWD cars which are very capable vehicles on the slick roads even when equipped with All Season tires ... but with the Winter rated tires, are exceptionally good performers.

[Dogmama50]

I think you're getting winter tires and studded tires confused. I can't remember the last time I saw a tire with studs and I live in the mountains.

[bluescreen73]

I haven't had studded snow tires on a car since, oh, 1992. Nice try though.

[McGowdog]

Coloradoans, unlike Minnesotans, don't need their intelligence to be mandated.

Studded snow tires seemed to have faded away with the rwd vehicles. Some of us still own rwd only vehicles, but we don't take them out on the ice.

It's like the helmet law. We don't need the federal government to try and protect the very heads of people who want to ride their bike without protecting the very coconut within said helmet that is responsible for making the decision in the first place.

If people are smart enough to demonstrate safety, those less fortunate may either eventually comply or fade away.

[OhioToCO]

Originally Posted by Dogmama50

I think you're getting winter tires and studded tires confused. I can't remember the last time I saw a tire with studs and I live in the mountains.

Agreed. Winter tires, however, are very useful. I wish all the newcomers got in the habit of using those October - April, instead of asking endless questions about the need for 4WD vehicles. FWD with winter tires will handle much better in the snow and on the slippery roads than 4WD with all season tires, most of the time.

[coschristi]

My dad swears by studded tires but he has always done alot of highway driving & mountain driving.

His come OFF over the summer, though, he says they are bad on the roads & bad on his gas milage.

I didn't realize people left them ON ... Why would they do that? They can be really expensive; why would anyone shorten their "life-span" like that?

[mysterymachinebl]

Originally Posted by coschristi

My dad swears by studded tires but he has always done alot of highway driving & mountain driving.

His come OFF over the summer, though, he says they are bad on the roads & bad on his gas milage.

I didn't realize people left them ON ... Why would they do that? They can be really expensive; why would anyone shorten their "life-span" like that?

I hear cars with them fairly often during the summer months. It seems like a waste of money since the heat shortens their lifespan quite a bit.

[McGowdog]

The only time they might do anything is when spinning your drive wheel/wheels on the ice and you've already lost at this point.

How many of you realize that you don't have to spin your wheels ever on the snow or ice?

Granted, sometimes you see yourself heading west up Filmore just west of I-25 or cresting Monument Hill and the road is so pitched and so icy that you get sideways and/or fishtail.

The only thing to do here is slow down slow down slow down... with your foot off of the brake pedal... and try to steer out of trouble. Gear down, do what you gotta do.

I see no need for studded snow tires, unless you see yourself driving on your mother-in-law's driveway.