How do you stomach the Seattle roads?

Mostly by not living there.

Seriously though. We have an issue with rutted roads here, too. Studs are part of the problem, another is simply inadequate road maintenance.

Yeah, all the roads are really crappy here. People definitely should live elsewhere...

PhilBa said:

Yeah, all the roads are really crappy here. People definitely should live elsewhere...

Click to expand...

Haha.

You've touched a hot button with me...Totally from the studs, but a bit from chains as the I-90 pass is a bit worse. When I first moved here I was astounded how bad the ruts were and looked into the reason why WA State allows studs. Turns out the only time when the studs are affective are on ice which we rarely have. I firmly believe, after driving on these roads for 8 years, that the ruts are much more of a hazard than the studs are a benefit. Any and every chance I get to vote them into the history books I'll take.

Some of the ruts are more than 1.5" deep. Granted the highways are designed to be diamond cut, but they are wearing out much quicker than designed: http://www.khq.com/Global/story.asp?S=14299657 mainly due to SUV's (read: heavy) and extended/non-enforced laws for removing them in April.

Warning PDF's:
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/research/reports/fullreports/551.1.pdf
http://www.iowadot.gov/research/reports/Year/2003andolder/abstracts/hr148.pdf

Discoducky said:

Turns out the only time when the studs are affective are on ice which we rarely have.

Click to expand...

Tons of people go into the mountains to ski and the studs are quite effective then as ice is frequent. They just leave them on when they drive around the city though.

I do wonder why people get studs. Besides the Model S, I have an awd Audi s4, and I've never had any problems going skiing, even on the worst weather with chains or AWD required. I suppose if there was deep snow I wouldn't be able to go, but the mtn passes wouldn't be open with deep snow. If I traveled off the highways and the roads were unplowed, studs might be needed, but I only seem to visit ski areas and maybe drive to towns around them, like many people in the seattle area.

rolosrevenge said:

Tons of people go into the mountains to ski and the studs are quite effective then as ice is frequent. They just leave them on when they drive around the city though.

Click to expand...

TV has taught me that studs aren't nearly as effective on the bunny slope as underdogs with a backstory and a heart of gold.

rolosrevenge said:

Tons of people go into the mountains to ski and the studs are quite effective then as ice is frequent. They just leave them on when they drive around the city though.

Click to expand...

The study showed that even on ice there weren't effective at protecting against sliding or adding traction where light acceleration couldn't accomplish the same thing. Nor do they help going up hills or down or assist in braking. Basically studded tires are good for rutting roads.

brianman said:

TV has taught me that studs aren't nearly as effective on the bunny slope as underdogs with a backstory and a heart of gold.

Click to expand...

You sir, win the internet for the day.

Lived in NYS for 30 years before moving to the west coast a while ago. Seattle roads are much better. Frost heaves, big expansion join gaps and pot holes all over the place in NY despite non-stop roadwork.

Good to know we are better than somewhere, because seems pathetic here. Ka-thumping around residential streets, and highways are worse. Have to go elsewhere to have a nice drive, and that,s in any kind of car.

How do you stomach the Seattle roads?

Click to expand...

I don't do pushups on pavement. Mostly because I don't do them much anyway these days, and when I do it's usually on grass.