Ten states prohibit the use of studded tires because of damage to the roadway, although, with the exception of Minnesota and Wisconsin, these are largely states in which the need for them would be minimal, if at all reasonable, such as Southern states and Hawaii. Both Minnesota and Wisconsin allow out-of-state drivers to use them so that someone doesn't have to change tires while passing through these states. Other states, including Maine, have seasonal restrictions. For example, in Maine we have to remove them by May, I think. Leaving them on after the snow and ice have gone doesn't make sense anyhow because the studs would simply wear off, and studded tires aren't cheap. Seven states, Colorado, Kentucky, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Vermont, and Wyoming, have no restrictions on the use of studded tires. Except for people who live in the mountainous areas of Kentucky, New Mexico, and North Carolina, I don't imagine they have a large demand for studded tires, anyhow. I grew up in the UP of Michigan. Although studded tires were available, I think, we didn't use them. In fact, I don't think my dad even switched to snow tires in the winter. He did have a set of chains that he would use sometimes, but that was mostly for logging, as I recall. My first winter in Maine, I didn't use snow tires and I didn't feel at all safe on the road, We have hills and mountains in Maine, and it's a little scary going down a hill, knowing that it might take you a half-mile to stop, or that your car won't necessarily continue in a straight line. Snow tires were a little better but snow tends to pack the treads, severely diminishing the benefits of having a snow tire. Studded tires, on the other hand, are great. I have been using them every winter for the past fifteen years, and feel very secure on the road in the winter. I still have to realize that I am driving on ice, but it's much easier to control the car. The difference is so great that I wonder if anyone has ever done a study to show whether the number of winter traffic accidents have gone up in Minnesota and Wisconsin - both controlled by Democrats - banned studded tires.
I should mention that studded tires are particularly useful when driving on rural roads in the winter, although they help a lot on city streets too. Maine generally keeps the Interstate pretty clear so a lot of time spent on I-95 will wear the studs out.
I'll bet the same people who argued against the use of studded tires, in other situations used the argument, "If it saves even one life..."
I had studded snows on all wheels of my 72 Buick wagon. Put them on after first snow and took off in April. My driveway had 20 degree tilt.
We have All Terrain Tires on our Durango, plus a switch for All Wheel Drive and anti-lock brakes. Have never had a problem driving in snow/ice here.
When I lived in Idaho, I put on 4 studded snow tires on my Mazda pickup every winter, plus a bale or two of heavy alfalfa, or other weight, over the rear axle of the truck. In Idaho, they can go on from 11/1-5/1 (or about that), so they are usually not put on until we were expecting a snowstorm, and back off again after it looked like the worst part of winter was over with. As long as they are being used properly, which means snow and ice covered roads, they are not doing any damage to the road, and I am sure that they have saved many, many lives and accidents.
The problem, as I said, is that while the studded tires are a big help around town, where the streets are plowed but not scraped dry, and which often tend to be icy or under-plowed, if I am going into Bangor or anywhere along I-95, the expressway is often dry because they plow and salt it. Although that might do some damage to the road, it also wears out the studs so that they are less effective and do less damage to the roads, so no one wants to leave them on when they aren't needed. We wait until we're pretty sure that the snow is here to stay for the winter, and we take them off when we have reason to believe that winter is on the wane. We don't really need laws for that.
Usually only twice a year: the start of winter and the end of winter. Some service stations will store your regular/snow tires for you until you need them again.
In Idaho, many of the local tire places will do if for a minimal charge, or even for free if you are a customer and buy your tires there. With the proper equipment, it takes around 10 minutes for them to do the job, assuming that you have 2 full sets of tires on rims already, and just switch back and forth twice a year.
Over here they seem to argue that those tires are worth the cost for the individual but not for the general public because damage to the roads was just enormous. Since then they have been forbidden completely even in alpine snow regions. But chains are a must there.
Where we lived in Idaho, the local tire place would swap them out for no cost. I do not think they actually stored the tires, as Ken’s place does but still, getting the tires changed out and for free was a tremendous help.
When I had them, I had the studded mounted on their own wheels and I used to take 1/2-3/4 of an hour to do it myself.