[larrybuck]

In the Portland/Vancouver area on freeways that are concrete, the slow lanes are pocked with several years of people needlessly using studded tires all through the winter, just because it is legal.

Probably less than 5% of them are probably skiers that might actually use them on weekends.

We only average about 3 snow/ice scary days locally, so the studs are widely un-needed.

With a fairly narrow car like a CRX, or a Metro; one can position their left tires in the un-worn center of the lane, and the right's a couple inches from the fog line thereby reducing tire resistance, shock/strut wear, and helping mpg's of course!