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Posted on Sunday October 9th at 9:04 a.m.
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Palmerston North coroner Tim Scott made the recommendation after findings from the inquest into the death of Taumaranui meat worker William Paul in August 2010.
Paul, 27, was a front seat passenger in a car fitted with snow tyres which slid on a corner on State Highway 4, 36 kilometres north of Taumaranui, and collided into the path of an oncoming courier van.
Neither speed or alcohol were considered causes of the crash.
The road had been sprayed with calcium magnesium acetate (CMA) an hour before the accident to prevent ice forming on the road surface.
The driver of the car, Hayden Lefoe, told police his Toyota Corona was fitted with four snow tyres when he had bought it.
Lefoe, who did not give evidence at the inquest, also told police he did not know a lot about snow tyres and presumed they were better on snow for driving.
Scott said most drivers' knowledge of snow tyres was limited and were not easy to recognise.
He said snow tyres were designed for cold roads in Japan and Europe, and not for normal winter driving conditions, except for ski field access roads.
Snow tyres provide less traction unless they are used on the road surfaces they are designed for.
They decrease the vehicle's performance, instead providing an increased likelihood of skidding or sliding, Scott said.
Snow tyres are fitted to imported cars when they arrive in New Zealand, or can be bought locally from small tyre importers at a cheaper price than normal road tyres.
In his finding Scott said snow tyres should be banned totally from vehicles warranted, or certified to operate and be used on New Zealand roads.
Scott also recommended it should be an offence to sell snow tyres, or drive a vehicle with snow tyres fitted.
He stopped short of recommending cars which are fitted with snow tyres be failed on a warrant of fitness.
"I have not made this recommendation lightly," he said.
"There should be no exceptions to the ban."