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The season of studded tires is officially over
The time for summer tires in Reykjavík has officially started. As of 15 April, it is illegal to drive on studded tires within the city limits. Studded tires are a known factor for increasing air pollution as studs abrade dry asphalt, causing dust and creating wear in the wheel path.
This year, however, there seems to be an unusual delay amongst car owners in changing to summer tires, according to an annual inspection undertaken by EFLA Consulting Engineers. The COVID-19 pandemic is thought to be partly to blame.
The percentage of cars on studded tires is considerably higher this April compared to last five years, the EFLA study concludes. More than 40 percent of vehicles still remain on studded tires, which is the same percentage as in mid-March this year when EFLA conducted its previous count.
Last year, car owners made the change to summer tires much earlier. By mid-April 2019, only some 31% of cars still had studded tires compared to 40% now, according to the annual study. And two years ago, only 22 percent of cars had studded winter tires during the same time of year.
The COVID-19 pandemic can be partly to blame, as strict rules of social distancing and numbers of costumers within the premises tend to slow down the process of changing the seasonal tires. However, tire workshops have been very innovative in coming up with new solutions to serve their costumers’ - i.e. by collecting the cars themselves, or allowing the drivers to remain within the car while the tires are being changed.
It is important to make an appointment with tire workshops as soon as possible.
Origin of air pollution: Study by EFLA, 2017
|
Asphalt |
48,9% |
|
Soot |
31,2% |
|
Soil |
7,7% |
|
Soil |
1.6% |
|
Salt |
3,9% |
These results underline a significant increase of the proportion of soot detected in fine particle air pollution within the capital, which can be blamed on increasing traffic and growing proportion of diesel cars in the fleet in Reykjavík.
Quality of air: You can follow the proportion of air and pollution in Reykjavík here: Loftgæði.