Helsinki to encourage electric car drivers to choose friction tyres

In recent years, exhaust emissions from traffic have decreased thanks to the development of vehicle technology and air protection measures. The street dust generated by traffic remains a significant air quality issue.

Street dust in cities is caused by studded tyres in particular: as much as half of the street dust comes from street surfaces worn down by studded tyres. The use of friction tyres reduces street dust, noise and road wear.

In winter traffic in Helsinki, approximately 40 per cent of vehicles drive on friction tyres. The city aims at increasing this figure to 70 per cent by winter 2030–2031. The city encourages residents to choose friction tyres and is engaging in a communications campaign on friction tyres in cooperation with Helsinki Region Environmental Services (HSY) and other municipalities in the Helsinki region, among other things. In addition to this, a ban on studded tyres is currently being piloted on Lönnrotinkatu. The pilot is also aimed at exploring whether the ban will increase the overall use of friction tyres and whether it will improve air quality.

“The share of friction tyres of winter tyres was 30 per cent a few years ago. We are satisfied that the number is going up, but we still have a long way to go to reach our goal,” says Environmental Specialist Kirsikka Nevalainen from the City of Helsinki.

Friction tyres for electric cars, too

Due to the weight of batteries, electric cars are heavier than corresponding internal combustion engine cars. This is why friction tyres are also recommended for winter use in electric cars. Studded tyres are especially damaging to the road surface under heavy vehicles, which causes road wear and the formation of street dust.

In addition to this, the operating distance of an electric car may be longer on friction tyres than on studded tyres, as the road resistance of friction tyres is lower when compared to studded tyres.