Updated: March 25, 1999

According to the Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, Alaska spends $5 million a year to repair ruts caused by studded tire use. The State of Alaska can save up to $2 million per year from reduced road wear once this legislation is in place.

Tests in Finland and Sweden have shown that there is "no appreciable difference in the traction effectiveness of conventional studs versus lightweight studs". Furthermore, both lightweight and conventional studs wear at approximately the same rate as the tire and offer a service life of three to four winters.

House Bill 127 mandates the sale and installation of lightweight (less than 1.3 gram) studs in tires used on vehicles less than 10,000 pounds. This point-of-sale legislation grandfathers in tires that are already studded and in use. The bill takes effect on July 1, 2000 and thus gives reasonable lead time to tire companies to prepare their inventory.

This bill will allow the State of Alaska to re-route funds that are now being used to repair stud-related road wear to the detriment of other improvements throughout the highway system.

I urge the Legislature to pass this bill which will reduce wear on our roads and at the same time save state money.