Tire Chain Laws by State 2025

Allowed when required
32
Specific guidelines
15
No tire chain law
3
State
Tire Chain Law
Tire Chain Specific Guidlines
Alaska Flag
AlaskaSpecific 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 Flag
CaliforniaSpecific 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 Flag
ColoradoSpecific 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 Flag
ConnecticutSpecific guidelines
  • From Nov. 15 through April 30 chains are permitted.
Idaho Flag
IdahoSpecific guidelines
  • Studded tires are allowed October 1 to April 30. Chains are allowed as needed and required on some mountain passes.
Kentucky Flag
KentuckySpecific guidelines
  • Not allowed unless the road is ice-covered or vehicle has an ice shoe at least 6 in wide.
Massachusetts Flag
MassachusettsSpecific guidelines
  • Permitted from Nov 1-May 1.
Montana Flag
MontanaSpecific 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 Flag
NevadaSpecific guidelines
  • Required on all vehicles over 10,000 lbs when requirements in effect.
  • Studded tires permitted between Oct 1-April 30.
Ohio Flag
OhioSpecific guidelines
  • Studded tires allowed between November 1 and April 15.
  • Tire chains are not allowed.
Oregon Flag
OregonSpecific 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 Flag
UtahSpecific 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 Flag
VermontSpecific 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 Flag
WashingtonSpecific 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 Flag
WyomingSpecific 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 Flag
FloridaNo tire chain law
Hawaii Flag
HawaiiNo tire chain law
New Hampshire Flag
New HampshireNo tire chain law
Alabama Flag
AlabamaAllowed when required
Arizona Flag
ArizonaAllowed when required
Arkansas Flag
ArkansasAllowed when required
Delaware Flag
DelawareAllowed when required
  • Chains are allowed when needed from October 15 to April 15.
Georgia Flag
GeorgiaAllowed when required
  • Tire chains required when posted on signage.
Illinois Flag
IllinoisAllowed when required
Indiana Flag
IndianaAllowed when required
Iowa Flag
IowaAllowed when required
Kansas Flag
KansasAllowed when required
Louisiana Flag
LouisianaAllowed when required
Maine Flag
MaineAllowed when required
  • Studs, wires and spikes are prohibited from May 1 to October 1.
Maryland Flag
MarylandAllowed when required
  • Not allowed on vehicles weighing more than 10,000 lbs.
Michigan Flag
MichiganAllowed when required
  • If chains are used, they must not come in direct contact with the roads surface.
Minnesota Flag
MinnesotaAllowed when required
Mississippi Flag
MississippiAllowed when required
Missouri Flag
MissouriAllowed when required
  • Not permitted April 1 to November 1.
Nebraska Flag
NebraskaAllowed when required
New Jersey Flag
New JerseyAllowed when required
New Mexico Flag
New MexicoAllowed when required
New York Flag
New YorkAllowed when required
  • Allowed when required October 16 to April 30.
North Carolina Flag
North CarolinaAllowed when required
North Dakota Flag
North DakotaAllowed when required
  • Studded tires allowed between October 15 and April 15.
Oklahoma Flag
OklahomaAllowed when required
Pennsylvania Flag
PennsylvaniaAllowed when required
Rhode Island Flag
Rhode IslandAllowed when required
South Carolina Flag
South CarolinaAllowed when required
South Dakota Flag
South DakotaAllowed when required
  • Signs will alert truckers about any restrictions.
Tennessee Flag
TennesseeAllowed when required
Texas Flag
TexasAllowed when required
Virginia Flag
VirginiaAllowed when required
West Virginia Flag
West VirginiaAllowed when required
  • Chains mustn't come in direct contact with the road surface.
Wisconsin Flag
WisconsinAllowed when required
  • Chains mustn't come in direct contact with the road surface.