According to one of my sons who is at DOT, DOT engineers are studying the pavement surface technology itself as a remedy for the effects of studs. There is some hope that improved surface technology may not only resist the wear of studs put have other positive effects. BTW: Has anyone thought about how the pavement particles themselves - as they are being percussed away by studs - can effect health? I say this as I am about to drive my AWD vehicle with studs all around....