Tire chains Laws in United States and Canada

AK Permissible when required for safety because of snow, ice or other conditions which may cause a vehicle to skid. Sec. 28.35.155. Operation of vehicle with certain tires prohibited (a) It is unlawful to operate a motor vehicle with studded tires or tires with chains attached on a paved highway or road from May 1 through September 15, inclusive, north of 60 North Latitude and from April 15 through September 30, inclusive, south of 60 North Latitude, except that any latitude on a paved portion of the Sterling Highway a person may not operate a motor vehicle with studded tires or tires with chains attached from May 1 through September 15, inclusive.

AZ Permissible when required for safety because of snow, ice or other conditions

tending to cause a vehicle to skid.

AR Permissible upon any vehicle when required for safety.

CA Required to be equipped with tire traction devices when entering a signed restricted area.

CO Signs along the roadway indicate when a vehicle must be chained. The metal chains must consist of two circular metal loops, one on each side of the tire, connected by not less than nine evenly spaced chains across the tire tread.

CT Non-skid devices may be used from Nov. 15 to April 30.

DE 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.

GA Permissible upon any vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice, or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to skid.

ID Permissible to use tire chains. There are times when chains are required. Signs will be posted “Chains required beyond this point” when the road is snow-covered or icy.

IL Permissible upon any vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to skid.

IN May be used upon a vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice, or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to skid.

IA Permissible upon any vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice, or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to skid.

KS Permissible upon any vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to skid.

KY Permissible when icy road conditions exist.

LA Permissible upon any vehicle upon any vehicle when required for safety because of conditions tending to cause a vehicle to slide or skid.

MD Permissible on any vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice, or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to skid. In case of declared show emergency, chains will be required on certain designated highways.

MA Between Oct. 15 and May 1, triples must carry one set for at least one driving wheel on each side.

MI Permissible when snow is on the ground.

MN Permitted when road conditions (ice and snow) require snow tires.

MS Permissible upon any vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice, or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to skid.

MT Permissible upon a vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice, or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to skid. In dangerous or unsafe conditions the department of transportation may post signs that require vehicles to use chains on driver wheels.

NE Permissible upon any vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice, or other condition tending to cause a vehicle to slide or skid.

NV Roads may be posted with tire chain requirements under certain snow conditions. Vehicles not equipped with chains on at least two driving wheels and at least two braking wheels on each trailer will not be allowed to proceed.

NJ 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; provided, however, that no tire chains shall be used at any time on improved highways when highway conditions do not make such use necessary for the safety of life or property. No person shall use any tire chains so constructed or installed as to be likely to be thrown so as to endanger any person or property.

NM Permissible upon any vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to skid.

NY Tire chains are required when a snow emergency has been declared.

NC Permissible upon any vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to slide or skid.

ND Permissible to use tire chains.

OK Permissible upon any vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice, or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to skid.

OR Tire chains are required when conditions demand because of snow, ice or other I inclement weather and signs are posted.

PA Required on two tires on a driven axle on emergency routes when the roadway is covered with ice or snow.

RI Permissible upon any vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice, or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to skid.

SC Permissible upon any vehicle when required for safety, because of snow, ice or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to skid.

SD Permissible upon any vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice, or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to slide or skid. The secretary of transportation

may restrict public travel upon any state trunk highway system to four-wheel drive vehicles or motor vehicles equipped with tire chains.

TN Permissible to use on any vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice, or other condition tending to cause a vehicle to skid. Must carry one set of tire chains for all vehicles likely to encounter conditions requiring them.

TX May be used when required for safety because of a condition that might cause the vehicle to skid.

UT May use on a vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice, or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to skid. Drivers are advised to carry one set for the drive axle from Nov. 1 to Mar 31.

VA Permissible when required for safety because of snow, ice, or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to slide or skid. Vehicles blocking traffic due to lack of tire chains may be fined.

WA The chain requirements are effective when the department of transportation has posted signs marked “chains required.” On certain routes sufficient tire chains must always be carried on the vehicle from Nov. 1 to April 1. The number of chains required varies,depending on the number of axles and vehicle configuration. At

least two extra chains must be carried on the vehicle.

WV Permissible upon any vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to skid.

WI May be used when required for safety because of snow, ice or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to skid.

WY May be required when the superintendent or his authorized representative determines that travel is sufficiently hazardous due to snow, ice, or other conditions.

No chain laws .............. DC, Florida, Maine, Missouri, New Hampshire, Ohio, and Vermont.



Canada

Alberta Allowed when conditions warrant.

British Columbia Vehicles in the mountains must be equipped with snow tires or chains

from Nov. 1 to April 30.

Manitoba Permissible upon a motor vehicle where required for safety.

New Brunswick May also be carried in the vehicle for use in ice and snow conditions.

Newfoundland Required on drive wheels when there is snow or ice on the surface of the highway.

Nova Scotia Permissible upon any vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to slide or skid.

Prince Edward Is Permissible to use tire chains.

Quebec The Minister of Transport may authorize, under the conditions and for the period he determines, the use of certain types of non-skid devices for such road vehicles as he may designate.
Information courtesy Minnesota Trucking.