All the states where studded winter tires are illegal
If you don’t live in the frozen North, you may never have encountered studded snow tires. They are aggressive winter tires with tiny metal studs—similar to soccer cleats—pressed into the rubber. Some drivers swear studs improve traction on ice. But there’s a downside: Alaska estimated that studded snow tires did $13.7 million in damage to its roads in the winter of 2019 alone.
The problem with studded snow tires is they rapidly break down pavement. This can create deep ruts in the surface. Come spring, these ruts fill with water and increase the risk of cars hydroplaning and crashing.
You won’t be surprised to hear that many warm-weather states ban studded tires altogether. According to WorldPopulationReview.com, these include Hawaii, Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Interestingly, often-snowy Michigan also bans studded snow tires.
Most of the country allows studded snow tires during winter seasons but will ticket you for running them unnecessarily in summer. In some states it’s in April; in other places it’s March. Here’s the full list of states that allow studded tires seasonally:
- Alaska
- Washington
- Montana
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Idaho
- Oregon
- California
- Nevada
- Utah
- Arizona
- Oklahoma
- Nebraska
- Kansas
- Iowa
- Missouri
- Arkansas
- Indiana
- West Virginia
- Virginia
- Tennessee
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- New York
- New Jersey
- Massachusetts
- Maine
- Rhode Island
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Washington D.C.
Other states only allow certain types of tires, such as rubber studs but no metal. These include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, South Carolina, and Wisconsin. The specifics vary by state.
Finally, there are the states that allow studded snow tires with very little or no restriction. Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Kentucky, North Carolina, New Hampshire, and Vermont are on this list.
