The studs in tyres are small carbide rods, which will easily chew through a soft material like asphalt. A rubber tyre would seem to be quite a bit softer than a

The studs in tyres are small carbide rods, which will easily chew through a soft material like asphalt. A rubber tyre would seem to be quite a bit softer than asphalt in colder conditions, so I have a hard time imagining the rubber wearing the asphalt down so significantly.