Friction tyre myths persist

Many motorists are reluctant to switch to friction tyres because they have doubts about their safety. However, according to tyre tests, the difference between friction tyres and studded tyres has narrowed, and the ice grip of the best friction tyres has come very close to that of studded tyres.

“The notion that friction tyres are dangerous dates back to the 1990s, but over the decades, friction tyres have evolved more than studded tyres. Just like with any other technical consumer product, there are both good and bad friction tyres. Tyres also wear out, which reduces their grip, but high-quality friction tyres that are in good condition are safe to drive on,” says Tyres Director Jukka Antila at UTAC Automotive Testing Finland. UTAC has been conducting the annual tyre tests for Tekniikan Maailma magazine since the 1990s.

Driving at a speed that is appropriate to the road conditions and the condition of the tyres are more important factors in winter driving safety than the type of winter tyre.

The driver plays a crucial role in safe driving. If the road is slippery, the driver should drive more carefully, reduce their speed by about twenty kilometres per hour and keep a safe distance from the car in front.

“Friction tyres work well in all conditions, including on icy roads. Studded tyres are only useful in certain weather conditions. Namely, in very icy and slippery road conditions when snow is compacted onto the road surface by cars, or when rain falls on top of the snow and the surface freezes over,” Antila continues.

Although the grip properties of studded tyres are particularly evident on extremely icy road surfaces, in Southern Finland the grip of friction tyres is sufficient for most of the winter, as severe icy conditions are rare. Furthermore, salting the roads prevents the road surfaces from freezing. When driving in winter conditions, every driver must always ensure that they maintain a suitably low speed, remain alert at junctions and keep a safe distance from other vehicles.

The increased use of friction tyres has not led to a rise in accidents

According to a study carried out by the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency in 2023,(Link leads to external service) friction tyres are safer on modern cars than they used to be. Over the past ten years, friction tyres have accounted for just six per cent of winter road accidents. At the same time, their share in winter traffic nationwide has risen from 12 per cent to almost 20 per cent.

The more common use of friction tyres has not increased accidents in Nordic reference cities, where the majority of winter tyres are friction tyres. In Helsinki, 45 per cent of motorists use friction tyres; in Oslo, the figure is as high as 85 per cent; and in Stockholm, it is 60 per cent. The City of Helsinki aims to increase the proportion of Helsinki residents using friction tyres to 70 per cent by the winter of 2031.

“We encourage drivers in the Helsinki metropolitan area to use friction tyres when driving in winter, particularly for the sake of air quality. Studded tyres wear down the roads and cause road dust, which leads to serious health problems for many people. Street dust exacerbates respiratory and heart conditions and increases the incidence of lung infections, for example. Because of the studs, the streets also have to be resurfaced more often, which results in additional costs for the City. Furthermore, friction tyres also cause less noise than studded tyres,” says Environmental Specialist Kirsikka Nevalainen at the City of Helsinki.

When shopping for tyres, it is worth bearing in mind that not all friction tyres are the same. Friction tyres that are suitable for Finnish winter conditions are designed for snow and ice, whereas Central European studded tyres are designed for cool weather and wet road surfaces. Tyres that are suitable for Finnish conditions can be identified by the pictogram for tyres approved for use in extremely cold conditions on the EU tyre label.

The City of Helsinki’s Urban Environment Division commissioned a survey on winter tyres among motorists in Helsinki in the spring of 2025. A total of 1,055 Helsinki motorists aged between 18 and 69 took part in the online survey. The survey was carried out by Verian.