Tire Chain Laws
|
Select a State on the US Map to find the links to the Chain Laws for that State. Tire Chains are legal in all 50 states, although regulation regarding their usage varies by state. |
|
Alabama |
https://codes.lp.findlaw.com/alcode/32/5/9/1/32-5-210 No tire on a vehicle moved on a highway shall have on its periphery any block, stud, flange, cleat, or spike or any other protuberances of any material other than rubber which project beyond the tread of the traction surface of the tire, except that it shall be permissible to use farm machinery with tires having protuberances which will not injure the highway and, except also, that it shall be permissible to use tire chains or metal studded or safety spike tires of reasonable proportions upon any vehicle when required for safety because of snow, rain, or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to slide or skid. |
Alaska |
Alaska statue section 28.35.155 DMV FAQ's about studded tires. North of 60 North Latitude, studded tires or tire with chains attached are allowed on paved highways and roads between September 16th through April 31st, South of 60 North Latitude, they are allowed between October 1st-April 14th |
Arizona |
Arizona revised statutes A tire on a vehicle that is moved on a highway shall not have on its periphery any block, stud, flange, cleat, spike or other protuberance that is made of any material other than rubber and that projects beyond the tread of the traction surface of the tire, except that it is permissible to use: 1. Farm machinery with tires having protuberances that will not injure the highway. 2. Tire chains of reasonable proportions on a vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to skid. 3. From October 1 to May 1 pneumatic tires containing metal type studs of tungsten carbide or other suitable material that are inserted or constructed in a manner so that the number of studs or the percentage of metal in contact with the roadway does not exceed three per cent of the total tire area in contact with the roadway under any conditions. C. The director and local authorities in their respective jurisdictions may issue special permits authorizing the operation on a highway of traction engines or tractors having movable tracks with transverse corrugations on the periphery of the movable tracks or farm tractors or other farm machinery, the operation of which on a highway would otherwise be prohibited under this chapter. |
Arkansas |
Arkansas Code Title 27 Transportation 27-37-401. No tire on a vehicle moved on a highway shall have on its periphery any block, stud, flange, cleat, spike, or any other protuberances of any material except rubber which projects beyond the tread of the traction surface of the tire, with the following exceptions: 27-37-402. Metal studded tires lawful during prescribed period. |
California |
A tire on a vehicle upon a highway shall not have on its periphery any block, stud, flange, cleat, ridge, bead, or any other protuberance of metal or wood that projects beyond the tread of the traction surface of the tire. This section does not apply to any of the following: (a) Tire traction devices of reasonable size used to prevent skidding when upon wet surfaces or when upon snow or ice. (b) Pneumatic tires that have embedded therein wire not to exceed 0.075 of an inch in diameter and that are constructed so that under no conditions will the percentage of metal in contact with the roadway exceed 5 percent of the total tire area in contact with the roadway, except that during the first 1,000 miles of use or operation of the tire, the metal in contact with the roadway may exceed 5 percent of the tire area in contact with the roadway, but shall in no event exceed 20 percent of the area. (c) Vehicles operated upon unimproved roadways when necessary in the construction or repair of highways. (d) Traction engines or tractors when operated under the conditions of a permit first obtained from the Department of Transportation. (e) (1) Pneumatic tires containing metal-type studs of tungsten carbide or other suitable material that are inserted or constructed so that under no condition will the number of studs or the percentage of metal in contact with the roadway exceed 3 percent of the total tire area in contact with the roadway, between November 1 and April 30 of each year. A vehicle may be equipped year-round with tires that have studs that retract pneumatically or mechanically when not in use, if the studs are retracted between May 1 and October 31 of each year. A tire on a vehicle shall not be worn to a point at which the studs protrude beyond the tire tread when retracted. (2) The commissioner, after consultation with the Department of Transportation, may extend the period during which the studded pneumatic tires may be used with studs deployed or inserted in areas of the state for the protection of the public because of adverse weather conditions. (f) Pneumatic tires used on an authorized emergency vehicle, as defined in Section 165, containing metal-type studs of tungsten carbide or other suitable material, if the studs are inserted or constructed so that under no conditions will the number of studs or the percentage of metal in contact with the roadway exceed 3 percent of the total tire area in contact with the roadway. Notwithstanding subdivision (e), authorized emergency vehicles are permitted the unrestricted use of studded pneumatic tires throughout the year. Need more information? Visit Chain Requirements & FAQs. |
Colorado |
Colorado |
Connecticut |
General Statutes of Connecticut Tire chain usage is permitted for hazardous weather or other related incidents only, but may not damage the highway surface. Tire chains are only permitted between November 15 and April 30. |
Delaware |
Studded tires are permitted from October 15 - April 15 and tire chains of reasonable proportions may be used upon any vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to slide or skid. ... There are times when chains are required. |
Florida |
Florida has no chain laws Florida motor vehicle statutes Detail: 316.299 rough surfaced wheels prohibited. |
Georgia |
Georgia Driver Manual page 45 Use chains or snow tires if road conditions require extra traction Georgia's Commercial Driver's Manual page 2-26 |
Hawaii |
You can (1) use ordinary detachable tire or skid chains (2) studded snow tires on either the Mauna Kea access road above Hale Pohaku or on any other road within the Mauna Kea Science Reserve leased to the University of Hawaii. |
Idaho |
Idaho Statutes: Title 49 Motor Vehicles Chapter 9 No tire on a vehicle moved on a highway shall have on its periphery any block, stud, flange, cleat, spike, or any other protuberance of any material other than rubber which projects beyond the tread of the traction surface of the tire, except as allowed herein. It shall be permissible to use farm machinery with tires having protuberances which will not injure the highway, and it shall be permissible to use tire chains. Tires with built-in lugs of tungsten carbide or other suitable material, hereinafter called studs, may be used upon any vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice, or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to skid, that will not unduly damage the highway. Motor vehicles, trailers and semitrailers with tires having built-in studs are prohibited on public highways between the dates of May 1 and September 30, annually, except as provided in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this subsection:
(a) Fire pumper/tanker trucks and ladder trucks belonging to fire departments and firefighting agencies are exempt from the prohibited dates.
(b) A vehicle may be equipped year-round with tires that have retractable studs if the studs retract pneumatically or mechanically to at or below the wear bar of the tire when not in use and the retractable studs protrude beyond the wear bar of the tire only between October 1 and April 30. Retractable studs may be made of metal or other material and are not subject to the stud weight requirements of subsection (4) of this section.
(c) Special exemptions from the prohibited dates may be granted by the Idaho transportation board if it is found by the board that enhancements to public safety outweigh the increased pavement wear.
|
Illinois |
|
Indiana |
Indiana Motor Vehicle code |
Iowa |
https://iowadot.gov/#/services https://iowadot.gov/mvd/driverslicense/dlmanual/section3.pdf |
Kansas |
Permissible upon any vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to skid. |
Kentucky |
Kentucky revised motor vehicle statutes https://transportation.ky.gov/Pages/Home.aspx Permissible when icy road conditions exist. Where chains are used on rubber-tired vehicles, the cross chains shall be not more than three-fourths (3/4) of an inch in thickness or diameter, and shall be spaced not more than ten (10) inches apart, around the circumference of the tires. |
Louisiana |
RS 32:362 restrictions as to tire equipment. B. No tire on a vehicle moved on a highway shall have on its periphery any protuberances of any material, other than rubber, which projects beyond the thread of the traction surface of the tire, except that it shall be permissible to: (1) Use farm machinery with tires having protuberances which will not injure the highways; and (2) Use tire chains of reasonable proportions upon any vehicle, when required for safety because of conditions tending to cause a vehicle to slide or skid.
|
Maine |
|
Maryland |
Maryland Motor Vehicle Code Chains may be required in Maryland if a snow emergency is declared. ... Chains, of "reasonable proportion," can be used for safety because of snow, ice or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to skid. |
Massachusetts |
Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Statutes section 16 offensive or illegal operation of motor vehicles. https://www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-department-of-transportation |
Michigan |
Information for traction devices: Section 257.710 |
Minnesota |
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/169.72 Chapter 169 traffic regulations, 169.72 tire surface; metal studs. Permitted when road conditions (ice and snow) require tire chains. Studded pneumatic tires are not allowed on Minnesota registered vehicles. |
Mississippi |
You can use tire chains when conditions call for them. "No tire on a vehicle moved on a highway shall have on its periphery any block, stud, flange, cleat, or spike or any other protuberances of any material other than rubber which projects beyond the tread of the traction surface of the tire. However, it shall be permissible to use farm machinery with tires having protuberances which will not injure the highway, and it shall be permissible to use tire chains of reasonable proportions upon any vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice, or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to skid." |
Missouri |
Tire chain usage is permitted for hazardous weather or other related incidents only, but may not damage the highway surface. |
Montana |
Tire and Tire Chain restrictions Tire chains can be used when required for safety because of snow, ice, or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to skid. |
Nebraska |
Nebraska Statute Tire chains can be used by all between November 1 and April 1 as well as when conditions require them. |
Nevada |
Traction device requirements. (DOT) Chains or snow tires are required when posted on signs Studded snow tires legal from Oct. 1 to April 30. |
New Hampshire |
|
New Jersey |
Title 39 motor vehicles and traffic regulation. Motor vehicle tires may be fitted with tire-chains of reasonable proportions when roads, streets and highways are slippery, because of rain, snow, ice, oil, manner of construction or other reason |
New Mexico |
§ 66-3-847. |
New York |
https://drivinglaws.aaa.com/category/us-motor-laws/new-york/ Title 3, article 9 equipment of motor vehicles and motorcycles, § 375 equipment, 35 tires. https://dmv.ny.gov/press-release/press-release-10-14-2016 |
North Carolina |
North Carolina §20‑122 restrictions as to tire equipment. |
North Dakota |
Title 39 motor vehicles, 39-21-40 Tire chains may be used when necessary. Pneumatic tires with metal stubs projecting to 1/16 inch above the tread surface may be used between October 15 and April 15. |
Ohio |
No person shall operate any motor vehicle, other than a public safety vehicle or school bus, that is equipped with studded tires on any street or highway in this state, except during the period extending from the first day of November of each year through the fifteenth day of April of the succeeding year |
Oklahoma |
Oklahoma Legislative Information System Statutes §47-12-405. |
Oregon |
|
Pennsylvania |
§4525 |
Rhode Island |
Rhode Island Tire chains are allowed on farm machinery and on all vehicles between November 15th- April 1st http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/Statutes/TITLE31/31-23/31-23-20.HTM |
South Carolina |
South Carolina code of laws |
South Dakota |
South Dakota Codified Laws |
Tennessee |
|
Texas |
Tire Chains must not injure the highway and is a tire chain of reasonable proportion that is used as required for safety because of a condition that might cause the vehicle to skid. |
Utah |
https://www.udot.utah.gov/main/f?p=100:6:0::::V,T:,1 Vehicles likely to encounter conditions requiring chains must carry sets for at least one driving wheel on each side. Signs will designate when chains are required. When any designated highway is restricted, no vehicle or motor vehicle shall be allowed or permitted the use of the highway, during the period between November 1 and March 31, unless: 1. Said vehicle is equipped with either: a. Steel link chains or have chains in possession; or b. Mounted snow tires; or c. Elastomeric tire chains, designed for use with radial tires. 2. Four-wheel drive vehicles must have a minimum of two mounted snow tires to meet the requirements. 3. Radial tires without snow tread do not meet the requirements. |
Vermont |
Vermont Statutes, Title 23 Motor Vehicles, Chapter 13 Operation of Vehicles |
Virginia |
Chapter 10 Motor Vehicle & Equipment Safety |
Washington |
|
West Virginia |
|
Wisconsin |
WI Statute 347.45. Tire equipment. |
| Wyoming |
http://www.dot.state.wy.us/home/travel/winter/chain_law.html Wyoming’s chain law includes two levels of restrictions that can be implemented on specific highway sections when conditions warrant. Level 1When conditions are hazardous, travel can be restricted to:
Level 2When conditions are extremely hazardous, travel can be restricted to:
Under Level 2, commercial vehicles must have chains on at least two of the drive wheels at opposite ends of the same drive axle. Do not stop in the driving lane to install or remove chains!
|