WINTER TIRE TRACTION EVALUATIONS. WINTER VEHICLE TRACTION AND CONTROL PERFORMANCE

In Alaska, studded tires have been used during the winter season to increase vehicle traction force for safety reasons. Past experience and factual data have shown that the problems of accelerated pavement wear and airborne dust have been caused by the use of studded tires. Use of studded tires has been prohibited in many countries. Recently, the Bridgestone Tire Company designed and examined a new type of studless winter tire under the 'Blizzak' brand name to improve winter vehicle traction and minimize pavement wear. In order to evaluate this new type of tire, the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities conducted a preliminary field study in January of 1994 to compare the new tires with studded tires in stopping distance tests on packed snow and icy surfaces in Fairbanks and Anchorage.