Tire Chain Laws by State 2024

Tire chain laws vary across states in the United States, with regulations dictating when and where tire chains are permitted or required for vehicles. While some states allow tire chains under specific guidelines or when required by weather conditions, others have no tire chain laws at all.

In states like California and Nevada, tire chains are only allowed when signs are posted indicating that they are required. Similarly, Colorado mandates tire chains for commercial vehicles and trucks from September 1 through May 31, highlighting the importance of snow preparedness in mountainous regions.

Conversely, states like Florida and Hawaii have no tire chain laws due to their warmer climates and minimal snowfall. However, in states like Alaska and Montana, tire chains are permitted during specific times of the year or when snow conditions necessitate their use.

It's important for drivers to familiarize themselves with tire chain laws in the states they plan to travel through, as failure to comply with regulations can result in fines or penalties. By understanding and adhering to tire chain laws, motorists can ensure their safety and the safety of others during winter driving conditions.

State	Tire Chain Law	Tire Chain Specific Guidlines
Alaska	Specific guidelines	Not Permitted: May 1 through September 15 when north of 60 North Latitude. April 15 through September 30 when south of 60 North Latitude. If you are operating a vehicle on Sterling Highway from May 1 through September 15. Special permit needed for using chains in one of these zones.
California	Specific guidelines	Only when signs ware posted that chains are required. These signs will also include the type of requirement, which will include one of the following: R1 – Chains, traction devices or snow tires are required on the drive axle of all vehicles except four wheel/ all wheel drive vehicles. R2 – Chains or traction devices are required on all vehicles except four wheel/ all wheel drive vehicles with snow-tread tires on all four wheels. R3 – Chains or traction devices are required on all vehicles, no exceptions.
Colorado	Specific guidelines	From September 1 through May 31 commercial vehicles and trucks must have chains. Colorado has two different types of chain laws: Level 1 – Single-axle combination commercial vehicles must chain up. Trucks must have all four drive tires in chains. When level 1 is in effect, all other commercial vehicles must have snow tires or chains. Level 2 – When level 2 is in effect, all commercial vehicles are required to chain up the four drive tires.
Connecticut	Specific guidelines	From Nov. 15 through April 30 chains are permitted.
Idaho	Specific guidelines	Studded tires are allowed October 1 to April 30. Chains are allowed as needed and required on some mountain passes.
Kentucky	Specific guidelines	Not allowed unless the road is ice-covered or vehicle has an ice shoe at least 6 in wide.
Massachusetts	Specific guidelines	Permitted from Nov 1-May 1.
Montana	Specific guidelines	Chains may be required when a chain-up sign is posted. Vehicles are required to carry tire chains October 1 to April 1 when indicated.
Nevada	Specific guidelines	Required on all vehicles over 10,000 lbs when requirements in effect. Studded tires permitted between Oct 1-April 30.
Ohio	Specific guidelines	Studded tires allowed between November 1 and April 15. Tire chains are not allowed.
Oregon	Specific guidelines	Signs indicate when carrying chains is mandatory and when their use is required. Six chains must be available to comply with Oregon regulations. Tire chains are permitted when necessary for safety during snow, ice, or other conditions that may result in slippery highways.
Utah	Specific guidelines	Allowed during October 1 and April 30, when posted or when road conditions warrant it. An operator of a commercial vehicle with four or more drive wheels, other than a bus, shall affix tire chains to at least four of the drive-wheel tires.
Vermont	Specific guidelines	Required in certain areas when posted. Vehicles with semi trailers or trailers that have a tandem-drive axle towing a trailer shall have chains: - On two tires on each side of the primary drive axle, or if both axles of the vehicle are powered by the drive line, one tire on each side of each drive axle; and - On one tire of the front axle and one tire on one of the rear axles of the trailer.
Washington	Specific guidelines	Vehicles over 10,000 pounds GVW must carry at least two extra chains and ensure that their chains consist of hardened metal cross chains, excluding plastic. From November 1 to April 1, sufficient tire chains are required on specific routes, and authorities may restrict vehicle access to traction control areas for safety.
Wyoming	Specific guidelines	Signs will be posted indicating when chain laws are in effect, and must use adequate snow tires or chains. Wyoming's chain law has two levels of restrictions for hazardous conditions: Level 1 allows travel for vehicles with tire chains, adequate snow tires, or all-wheel-drive; Level 2 requires tire chains or all-wheel-drive with appropriate tires, and commercial vehicles must have chains on two drive wheels on the same axle.
Florida	No tire chain law
Hawaii	No tire chain law
New Hampshire	No tire chain law
Alabama	Allowed when required
Arizona	Allowed when required
Arkansas	Allowed when required
Delaware	Allowed when required	Chains are allowed when needed from October 15 to April 15.
Georgia	Allowed when required	Tire chains required when posted on signage.
Illinois	Allowed when required
Indiana	Allowed when required
Iowa	Allowed when required
Kansas	Allowed when required
Louisiana	Allowed when required
Maine	Allowed when required	Studs, wires and spikes are prohibited from May 1 to October 1.
Maryland	Allowed when required	Not allowed on vehicles weighing more than 10,000 lbs.
Michigan	Allowed when required	If chains are used, they must not come in direct contact with the roads surface.
Minnesota	Allowed when required
Mississippi	Allowed when required
Missouri	Allowed when required	Not permitted April 1 to November 1.
Nebraska	Allowed when required
New Jersey	Allowed when required
New Mexico	Allowed when required
New York	Allowed when required	Allowed when required October 16 to April 30.
North Carolina	Allowed when required
North Dakota	Allowed when required	Studded tires allowed between October 15 and April 15.
Oklahoma	Allowed when required
Pennsylvania	Allowed when required
Rhode Island	Allowed when required
South Carolina	Allowed when required
South Dakota	Allowed when required	Signs will alert truckers about any restrictions.
Tennessee	Allowed when required
Texas	Allowed when required
Virginia	Allowed when required
West Virginia	Allowed when required	Chains mustn't come in direct contact with the road surface.
Wisconsin	Allowed when required	Chains mustn't come in direct contact with the road surface.

State

Tire Chain Law

Tire Chain Specific Guidlines

Alaska

Specific guidelines

Not Permitted: May 1 through September 15 when north of 60 North Latitude.
April 15 through September 30 when south of 60 North Latitude.
If you are operating a vehicle on Sterling Highway from May 1 through September 15.
Special permit needed for using chains in one of these zones.

California

Specific guidelines

Only when signs ware posted that chains are required.
These signs will also include the type of requirement, which will include one of the following:
R1 – Chains, traction devices or snow tires are required on the drive axle of all vehicles except four wheel/ all wheel drive vehicles.
R2 – Chains or traction devices are required on all vehicles except four wheel/ all wheel drive vehicles with snow-tread tires on all four wheels.
R3 – Chains or traction devices are required on all vehicles, no exceptions.

Colorado

Specific guidelines

From September 1 through May 31 commercial vehicles and trucks must have chains.
Colorado has two different types of chain laws:
Level 1 – Single-axle combination commercial vehicles must chain up. Trucks must have all four drive tires in chains. When level 1 is in effect, all other commercial vehicles must have snow tires or chains.
Level 2 – When level 2 is in effect, all commercial vehicles are required to chain up the four drive tires.

Connecticut

Specific guidelines

From Nov. 15 through April 30 chains are permitted.

Idaho

Specific guidelines

Studded tires are allowed October 1 to April 30. Chains are allowed as needed and required on some mountain passes.

Kentucky

Specific guidelines

Not allowed unless the road is ice-covered or vehicle has an ice shoe at least 6 in wide.

Massachusetts

Specific guidelines

Permitted from Nov 1-May 1.

Montana

Specific guidelines

Chains may be required when a chain-up sign is posted.
Vehicles are required to carry tire chains October 1 to April 1 when indicated.

Nevada

Specific guidelines

Required on all vehicles over 10,000 lbs when requirements in effect.
Studded tires permitted between Oct 1-April 30.

Ohio

Specific guidelines

Studded tires allowed between November 1 and April 15.
Tire chains are not allowed.

Oregon

Specific guidelines

Signs indicate when carrying chains is mandatory and when their use is required.
Six chains must be available to comply with Oregon regulations.
Tire chains are permitted when necessary for safety during snow, ice, or other conditions that may result in slippery highways.

Utah

Specific guidelines

Allowed during October 1 and April 30, when posted or when road conditions warrant it.
An operator of a commercial vehicle with four or more drive wheels, other than a bus, shall affix tire chains to at least four of the drive-wheel tires.

Vermont

Specific guidelines

Required in certain areas when posted.
Vehicles with semi trailers or trailers that have a tandem-drive axle towing a trailer shall have chains:
- On two tires on each side of the primary drive axle, or if both axles of the vehicle are powered by the drive line, one tire on each side of each drive axle; and
- On one tire of the front axle and one tire on one of the rear axles of the trailer.

Washington

Specific guidelines

Vehicles over 10,000 pounds GVW must carry at least two extra chains and ensure that their chains consist of hardened metal cross chains, excluding plastic.
From November 1 to April 1, sufficient tire chains are required on specific routes, and authorities may restrict vehicle access to traction control areas for safety.

Wyoming

Specific guidelines

Signs will be posted indicating when chain laws are in effect, and must use adequate snow tires or chains.
Wyoming's chain law has two levels of restrictions for hazardous conditions:
Level 1 allows travel for vehicles with tire chains, adequate snow tires, or all-wheel-drive;
Level 2 requires tire chains or all-wheel-drive with appropriate tires, and commercial vehicles must have chains on two drive wheels on the same axle.

No tire chain law

No tire chain law

No tire chain law

Allowed when required

Arizona

Allowed when required

Arkansas

Allowed when required