Helsinki declares war against street dust…with friction tires
Helsinki declares war against street dust…with friction tires
Fine particles are the most challenging piece of the air quality puzzle in this Nordic capital
This winter, Helsinki authorities are urging drivers to choose friction tires instead of studded car tires. The reason has nothing to do with improved safety or economic considerations. Instead, it is argued that friction tires are simply better for the environment because they produce fewer dust particles and less noise.
In addition to the information campaign, a parallel pilot project will be launched this fall, which will completely ban the use of studded tires on one street in Helsinki for the next three years. The street in question is Lönnrotinkatu in Kamppi.
Think about car tires from a new perspective
Helsinki is a master city in every way air quality performance over the past 30 years. Nevertheless, one problem has indeed proved persistent despite all efforts – the concentration of fine dust particles in the city’s atmosphere.
Studies have shown that the main culprit behind this pollution is local motor traffic, and more specifically the studded tires that drivers prefer in winter. Up to 40-50% of the street dust was formed by these tires, because they create a more stable effect on the road surfaces.
Today, the share of studded tires in Helsinki is about 70%. The goal set in Helsinki’s air protection plan is to reduce the share of studded tires to 30 percent and increase the share of friction tires to 70 percent by the winter season 2030–2031.
The popularity of these tires stems from the impression that they offer better control and safety for winter driving.
However, studies in Stockholm and Oslo have shown that the increased use of friction tires does not increase accidents. In addition, the grip properties of studded tires are better on ice, while the grip properties of friction tires are better on snow. However, hard ice is much less common in Helsinki than in the rest of the country, and road surface freezing is prevented by anti-slip methods based on salting. Thus, driving style affects safety more than tire type.