|
studded tires
Studded Tires that pull in their nails
Tire Information World : your friendly
independent source of tire help
 The latest innovation in studded tires
Imagine you're driving along and notice that funny gleam on the
road known as black ice... not only do you slow down, but you
shake in your shoes. You've purchased good mud and snow tires, but
without chains or studs on your
tires, black ice or heavy ice on the roadway is like having no
traction at all. You would use
studded tires, but it's an infrequent occurrence in your area and
the damage to roads as well as owning two sets of tires is just
not something you're willing to do.
Innovations every day are coming available for the public,
and one of the newest ones on the market that should be offered
by the winter of 2008 are re-tractable tire studs. Yes, push of
a button and you have studs on your car, another push of that button
and you're no longer damaging the roads.
Use of studs
Tires with studs are used in many areas where heavy snowfall
and heavy ice is a regular occurrence during the winter months.
The problem is when the snow and ice disappear during
warmer days the damage to the road surface from studded tires
is immense. Plenty of research has gone on concerning
the use of
tires with studs and damage on road surfaces. Repairs amount to
billions of dollars in tax funds for the Department
transportation that could've been used in building new roads
instead of resurfacing ones that haven't lasted but a few
years.
Now, a South Carolina, USA, based company, Q. tires, has
developed tires with retractable studs, reminiscent of the gadgets
seen on early spy films. Q. tires calls its new invention,
Celsius Tires, and really feel they are a safe way to save
lives and the roads.
The new tire technology deploys studs on demand by extending
the studs to the surface of the tread when needed and
retracting them below the tread surface when
no longer required. A secondary air chamber installed within the
tire when inflated pushes the studs to the surface. The air in
the main chamber is forced into the secondary chamber, putting
pressure on the studs when a control switch (RF signal) in the
interior of your car is activated. When retraction of the studs is required,
the air is expelled via a valve attached to the second chamber.
The amount of air is small enough that you'll only need to add air to
your tires after 20 to 30 times of retracting the studs.
Legal Problems
The biggest obstacle Q. tires is facing is getting
laws passed to allow these tires to be used where normal
tires with studs are restricted or forbidden. Most existing
laws designate a period during the winter months when
consumers may use studs on their vehicle.
Because these are retractable, they're very advantageous to skiers,
frequent travelers, and can be used as mud and snow tires on a
regular basis. 12 states have already passed laws that allow
retractable studs in tires all year and a major US retailer, Costco,
has stopped selling studded tires to promote the "environmentally
responsible" retractable ones.
Watch out James Bond
Many consumers are going to look forward to their new James-Bond-style retractable studs coming in the winter of
2008. Q. tires is approaching other independent tire dealers in
addition to Costco to expand their distribution and allow more
people to have the option of needing only one set of tires for
year-round use.
Other useful links
4x4 tires
all-terrain-tires
off-road-tires
tire-humor
tire
valves
tire-protection
Did you know we have a special
place to show-off your favorite wheels?
See the Hot Wheels Show Room
Return to
To
General Info.
Tire Information World's
home page from studded tires.
|
