Fire trucks and ambulances do not have studded tires

Fire trucks and other emergency vehicles lack studded tires in Stockholm.

Something that can lead to serious accidents and delays.

– The worst thing is that third parties can suffer from us not coming forward, says a source.

Several people in the rescue service are now raising the alarm that their express vehicles in Stockholm lack studded tires.

Instead, they drive with “all-round tires” – something that can lead to both delays and accidents. Especially when the road conditions are bad and it’s cold and icy outside.

– I have seen it release when I was sitting as a driver when we pull out. It has only been lucky that we didn’t end up in the ditch or, in the worst case, collide during an emergency, says a person who works in the rescue service.

The fact that the driving times during an emergency are longer can also have serious consequences.

– The worst thing is that third parties can suffer because we don’t arrive, because we become stationary or because we have to drive so slowly that we don’t arrive in time.

Same problem in multiple regions

Firefighters in other regions that Aftonbladet spoke to also testify to the same problem. The reason must be that the municipalities save money by using all-round tires, a source states.

According to Swedish law, you must use winter tires between December 1 and March 31 if there are winter road laws. Winter tires can be either studded tires or non-studded friction tires, also called “all-round tires”. For heavy vehicles, it also applies that the tires must have a tread depth of at least 5 millimeters when winter road conditions prevail.

– It looks different throughout the country depending on where the fire engines are driven. In the northern parts you have studded tires. Further south, it is preferably unstudded, but still winter tires, says Magnus Krantz who is the central ombudsman at the Firefighters’ National Association.

“Important that we have the right tires”

He is not aware that it would be a common problem for fire trucks to lack studded tires.

– But it is incredibly important that the fire trucks have the best tires available based on current road conditions.

But you don’t think it’s a problem that fire trucks don’t have studded tires in the winter?

– It is a problem if someone announces that it is a concern. Of course, I see it as problematic if there are incorrect tires on the cars.

“Of course there will be a cost”

Magnus Krantz says that it is the employer’s responsibility to ensure that the fire trucks have the right tires. But that it is also important that those who drive emergency vehicles raise the alarm when problems arise.

– It is something that must be reported to the employer. If the tires are substandard, they must be replaced.

He cannot answer whether it is a matter of cost that municipalities use all-round tires.

– But there is a reasonable thought in it. If you are going to have two sets of tires for each vehicle, it is clear that there will be another cost. At the same time, the cost should not play any role.