Studded Tires Legal States 2026

Legality of Studded Tires

Conditional

Illegal

Legal

Seasonal

State	Legality of Studded Tires↓	Studded Tires Permitted Usage Dates and Additional Conditions
Colorado	Legal
Kentucky	Legal
New Hampshire	Legal
New Mexico	Legal
North Carolina	Legal
Vermont	Legal
Wyoming	Legal
Alabama	Conditional	Rubber studs permitted; metal illegal
Florida	Conditional	Studs that do not damage highway are permitted
Georgia	Conditional	Prohibited except for snow and ice driving conditions
Illinois	Conditional	Rural mail carriers permitted Nov 15 to Apr 01
Maryland	Conditional	Permitted in western counties only Nov 01 to March 31
Minnesota	Conditional	Rural mail carriers and non-residents permitted Nov 015th to Apr 15th
South Carolina	Conditional	Permitted if projection less than 1/16 when compressed
Wisconsin	Conditional	Permitted for rural mail carriers, emergency vehicles and school vehicles Nov 15 to Apr 01
Alaska	Seasonal	Permitted Sept 16 to Apr 30 north of 60 degrees; Permitted Oct 01 to Apr 15 south of 60 degrees
Arizona	Seasonal	Permitted Oct 01 to May 01
Arkansas	Seasonal	Permitted Nov 15 to Apr 15
California	Seasonal	Permitted Nov 01 to Apr 30
Connecticut	Seasonal	Permitted Nov 15 to Apr 30
Delaware	Seasonal	Permitted Oct 15 to Apr 15
District of Columbia	Seasonal	Permitted Oct. 15 to Apr. 15
Idaho	Seasonal	Permitted Oct. 1 to Apr. 15
Indiana	Seasonal	Permitted Oct 01 to May 01
Iowa	Seasonal	Permitted Nov 01 to Apr 01
Kansas	Seasonal	Permitted Nov 01 to Apr 15
Maine	Seasonal	Permitted Oct 01 to May 01
Massachusetts	Seasonal	Permitted Nov 02 to April 03
Missouri	Seasonal	Permitted Nov 01 to Mar 31
Montana	Seasonal	Permitted Oct 01 to May 31
Nebraska	Seasonal	Permitted Nov 01 to Apr 01
Nevada	Seasonal	Permitted Oct 01 to Apr 30
New Jersey	Seasonal	Permitted Nov 15 to Apr 01
New York	Seasonal	Permitted Oct 16 to Apr 30
North Dakota	Seasonal	Permitted Oct 15 to Apr 15. School buses anytime
Ohio	Seasonal	Permitted Nov 01 to Apr 15
Oklahoma	Seasonal	Permitted Nov 01 to Apr 01
Oregon	Seasonal	Permitted Nov 01 to Apr 01
Pennsylvania	Seasonal	Permitted Nov 01 to Apr 15
Rhode Island	Seasonal	Permitted Nov 15 to Apr 01
South Dakota	Seasonal	Permitted Oct 01 to Apr 30. School vehicles and fire vehicles exempt
Tennessee	Seasonal	Permitted Oct 01 to Apr 15
Utah	Seasonal	Permitted Oct 15 to Mar 31
Virginia	Seasonal	Permitted Oct 15 to Apr 15
Washington	Seasonal	Permitted Nov 01 to Apr 01
West Virginia	Seasonal	Permitted Nov 01 to Apr 15
Hawaii	Illegal
Louisiana	Illegal
Michigan	Illegal
Mississippi	Illegal
Texas	Illegal

Studded tires have small metal protrusions inserted into the rubber to improve tire-road friction in bad weather conditions like snow or ice. Although studded tires help drivers in bad weather, some states restrict the use of studs or ban them because of the damage to road surfaces.
Laws regarding studded tires may change at any time. Information displayed should not be considered legally authoritative. Interested parties are advised to confirm legality with state or local Department of Transportation officials.

Studded Tires Tires fitted with small studs that improve traction on snow and ice but can also increase road wear, so their use is often restricted by state law.

States Where Studded Tires Are Legal

A small number of states allow studded tires without seasonal restrictions, meaning they can be used year-round under state law.

States in this category include Colorado, Kentucky, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Vermont, and Wyoming. While fully legal at the state level, general vehicle and road safety regulations still apply.

States Where Studded Tires Are Legal with Conditions

Some states allow studded tires but impose specific conditions on their use. These restrictions may include limits on the type of studs permitted, vehicle classifications, geographic areas, or usage only during certain road conditions.

States in this category include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. In these states, use is permitted only under defined circumstances, such as for specific vehicles, in certain regions, or when snow and ice are present.

States Where Studded Tires Are Legal Seasonally

Most states allow studded tires only during specific times of the year, typically aligning with winter driving conditions. These seasonal windows are designed to balance improved traction in snow and ice with minimizing road damage during warmer months.

States in this category include Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia. Exact permitted dates vary by state, often falling between October or November and March or May.

States Where Studded Tires Are Illegal

In some states, studded tires are not permitted due to concerns about road damage and infrastructure wear.

States in this category include Hawaii, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, and Texas. In these states, drivers must use alternative traction options such as snow tires without studs or tire chains where allowed.