Although studded tires are used to benefit individuals and society by

decreasing the risk of road transport accidents, they indirectly cause

negative effects from wearing the pavement. Not only does this imply

increased maintenance costs for the road-holders and cleaning costs for many

others, but particles from the wear are also believed to cause and aggravate

diseases in the human respiratory system. It is further suspected that they

may cause environmental harm. This essay is an attempt to disentangle the

matter through a cost-benefit assessment including the 13 southernmost

Swedish counties. For those effects that there is sufficient knowledge,

monetary values have been estimated, while others are merely discussed.

A literature survey, accident and population statistics, and a model

describing the differences in accident risk between tires have been used as

bases for the analysis. SIKA'’s recommended monetary values have been applied

for road accidents, as well as for health and soiling costs from emission of

particulate matter.

It seems today unrealistic to assert for certain whether the net effect of

studded tire use is positive or negative seems. This is principally due to a

lack of exposure-response links and uncertainties concerning friction

improvement, as well as size distribution and toxicity of pavement wear

particulate matter. With reference to the results at hand, it is nevertheless

claimed that most likely, a high level of studded tire use in the southern

part of Sweden does not entail any significant net benefits. Depending on

which assumptions are correct it may, however, involve a rather substantial

net cost.