It's time for Minnesota to legalize studded tires (winter, drive)

[wamer27]

If there was nonstop accidents due to poor/wrong tires then it’s worth taking a look. I’ve never heard this argument never used here, therefore I find it a worthless cause/talking point. We have zero mountains or large amounts of snow here like western states. Lake Tahoe got more snow in one storm two weeks ago then MN will get in an entire season or two or three combined, these are places that need snow tire restrictions.

[Tyryztoll]

If you need studded tires to drive in the winter here you shouldn’t be driving here to begin with. Not only have I not had a problem doing so, but I survived driving through 7 northern Michigan winters where they get over 200 inches of snow annually in a rear wheel drive light pickup with all season tires.

[jennifat]

Why would studded tires need to be legalized? Minnesota has thrived for decades without them. They're not needed here.

Road travel in the winter generally isn't a problem because we already have good snow removal and there are rarely times when it's truly dangerous if driving sensibly. I couldn't even tell you how many awful snowstorms I've had to commute through that were perfectly manageable if driving at a reasonable speed.

The real problem is people who drive like reckless maniacs knowing full well it's not smart. Then again, those same people are the bad drivers when roads are clear, too.

[JONOV]

Originally Posted by wamer27

The Zamboni (all Zamboni's) I drove around had studs, tons of grip on ice. Up in Anchorage our roommate had a 2 wheel drive Ranger and couldn't get up the last hill to get home, had to park 200 ft away. Bought studded tires and made it up no problem after that. Winter tires would have worked just as well, and not destroyed the roads.

My brother drove a Mazda Miata with snow tires and got anywhere he needed to, provided snow wasn't too deep. My Dad had a RWD sports sedan and that was similarly squirrely, but if you put snow tires on, it was as surefooted as my Mom's subaru.

I don't think the ice rink I worked at had studded tires, but I could be off on that.

[Thealpinist]

You don't need studded tires in Minnesota. There are no real mountainous areas in Minnesota.

[Thealpinist]

Originally Posted by wamer27

If there was nonstop accidents due to poor/wrong tires then it’s worth taking a look. I’ve never heard this argument never used here, therefore I find it a worthless cause/talking point. We have zero mountains or large amounts of snow here like western states. Lake Tahoe got more snow in one storm two weeks ago then MN will get in an entire season or two or three combined, these are places that need snow tire restrictions.

This right here. Minnesota is not a western state. Really overall doesn’t even get much snow compared to more mountainous places.

[Pincho-toot]

Well, in general roads, at least highways, are cleared and salted pretty quickly. Most of the accidents in winter are due to terrible driving skills/habits. Being on your phone, driving too fast, too aggressively, not zipper merging, just plain old carelessness, not knowing how to manage a skid, not checking mirrors.

Or just not having proper tires. You don't need winter tires, or studded tires, def not chains, but you need All Season Tires with decent tread and tire pressure.

[Lodestar]

People don't know how to drive in snow. Knowing that, having a good set of snow tires and knowing when to stay off the road is sufficient.

[dadr]

Originally Posted by Lodestar

People don't know how to drive in snow. Knowing that, having a good set of snow tires and knowing when to stay off the road is sufficient.

Also depends on living in the TC metro area vs. outstate (I lived in both). In the metro the roads are often salted better, more trafficked and we never felt we needed snow tires. Living outstate with more wind and ice, and less salt, I found snow tires to be much more helpful on our lightweight FWD car after my wife had a spinout and getting stuck on an incline. And I grew up and learned to drive in rural WI and my wife grew up and learned to drive on manuals in the mountains of New England.

[tlarnla]

Don't studded tires cause potholes and make existing potholes worse?

We get enough potholes at the end of winter already, without studded tires making it worse.