Regelation

This can be demonstrated by looping a fine wire around a block of ice, with a heavy weight attached to it.

The pressure exerted on the ice slowly melts it locally, permitting the wire to pass through the entire block.

Nuclear magnetic resonance provided evidence for a liquid layer on the surface of ice.

At least one 1992 article suggests it is a slightly misconceived misconception to ascribe regelation to ice skating.

[4] The problem with matching the (large) magnitude of the water-ice p-V gradient above the triple point boundary with the magnitudes of prevailing temperature and pressure in the case of the ice skating context applies equally in the context of the classic lab experiment with a copper wire cutting through an 10cm ice block with say a 28 swg wire.

Car tyres work in snow even though there is some increased surface melting because they have tread which allows water to be liberated.