Choose friction tyres for next winter and reduce street dust

A scratchy throat and itchy eyes are typical symptoms during the spring street-dust season. HSY reminds that street dust is generated during winter, and an effective way to reduce it is to choose friction tyres for your winter tyres.

Less street dust, better air quality

Street dust that has formed and accumulated during the winter rises into the air in spring as road surfaces dry. It appears as thick clouds of dust, especially in areas with heavy traffic. Traffic lifts the dust from dry streets, which deteriorates air quality.

You can reduce the amount of street dust by favouring public transport, cycling, and walking. If you drive, there is an effective way to reduce dust:

“By choosing friction tyres for your car’s winter tyres, you reduce the amount of spring street dust and improve air quality. At the same time, tyre noise decreases,” says our Air Quality Expert Nelli Kaski.

Street dust consists mainly of finely ground asphalt and anti-skid gravel. Studded tyres, in particular, wear down asphalt and thus produce more dust.

Breathing street dust is not good for your health

Breathing street dust is not healthy for anyone. Typical symptoms include a runny nose, cough, itching of the eyes and throat, and shortness of breath, especially for those with respiratory or heart diseases. Street dust can worsen symptoms among heart and respiratory patients and cause irritation symptoms even in healthy adults.

Street dust may cause symptoms especially for:

• small children
• the elderly
• people with respiratory and heart diseases

The campaign highlights winter tyre choices

The ongoing street-dust campaign by HSY and the cities of the Helsinki metropolitan area reminds that your winter tyre choices can influence the amount of street dust next spring:

“Don’t let the studs rattle—choose friction tyres for next winter.”

A further advantage of friction tyres is that they offer more flexibility when deciding the timing of tyre changes. However, they should still be replaced with summer tyres in good time when weather conditions allow it.

The campaign is running on, for example, radio and social media.