Tire Chain Laws by State
Where and when you must chain up, who it binds, whether AutoSock or an alternative traction device counts, and the fine for running bare. Chain control is seasonal and posted by the state DOT in real time, so this shows how the system works and links you to each state's live status. Covers all 50 states and DC. Reference only, not legal advice.
No federal chain law, so it changes at every line
There is no federal chain mandate. FMCSA leaves chains to the states under 49 CFR 392.14, so the western mountain states run real chain-control programs while the plains and southern states have none. When a storm hits a pass the state DOT posts chain control and lifts it when the road clears. California and Colorado post numbered levels (R-1, R-2, R-3 in California; Code 15 traction and Code 16 chain law in Colorado). Other mountain states post "Chains Required" on message signs. Two rules trip drivers up: snow tires do not replace chains for a heavy truck, and carrying chains is a separate rule from mounting them.
Chain law rules for all 50 states and DC
Tap a state for when chains are required, which passes, who it binds, whether a traction device substitutes, the fine, and the live source for the current order.
| State | Chain law | Scope | When required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama AL | None | None | Optional |
| Alaska AK | None | None | Chains are optional |
| Arizona AZ | Posted | Posted passes only | No fixed season |
| Arkansas AR | None | None | Optional |
| California CA | Posted | Posted passes only | Winter storm season, no fixed calendar |
| Colorado CO | Statewide | Statewide when activated | No fixed storm calendar |
| Connecticut CT | None | None | No standing chain order |
| Delaware DE | None | None | Never mandated |
| District of Columbia DC | None | None | Chains stay optional |
| Florida FL | None | None | Optional and essentially never needed |
| Georgia GA | None | None | Only in a declared state of emergency for inclement winter weather |
| Hawaii HI | None | None | Chains are optional and there is nothing to activate |
| Idaho ID | Posted | Posted passes only | No fixed chain season |
| Illinois IL | None | None | Chains are optional |
| Indiana IN | None | None | Chains are optional |
| Iowa IA | None | None | Chains are optional |
| Kansas KS | None | None | Optional |
| Kentucky KY | None | None | Optional |
| Louisiana LA | None | None | Optional |
| Maine ME | None | None | Chains stay optional |
| Maryland MD | Posted | Posted passes only | Only on a signposted snow emergency route while a snow emergency is declared and in effect |
| Massachusetts MA | None | None | Chains stay optional |
| Michigan MI | None | None | Chains are optional |
| Minnesota MN | None | None | Optional |
| Mississippi MS | None | None | Optional |
| Missouri MO | None | None | Chains are optional statewide |
| Montana MT | Posted | Posted passes only | October 1 to April 30, towing units 26,001 pounds GVW and up must carry chains or an approved traction device |
| Nebraska NE | None | None | Optional |
| Nevada NV | Posted | Posted passes only | No fixed season |
| New Hampshire NH | None | None | Chains stay optional |
| New Jersey NJ | None | None | Never mandated |
| New Mexico NM | None | None | Never required |
| New York NY | None | None | No standing chain mandate |
| North Carolina NC | None | None | Optional |
| North Dakota ND | None | None | Optional |
| Ohio OH | None | None | Chains are optional |
| Oklahoma OK | None | None | Never required, and even permitted use is boxed into November 1 through April 1 |
| Oregon OR | Posted | Posted passes only | No fixed season, most common November through March |
| Pennsylvania PA | Posted | Posted passes only | Winter storms only |
| Rhode Island RI | None | None | Chains stay optional |
| South Carolina SC | None | None | Optional |
| South Dakota SD | Posted | Posted passes only | Winter, and only when the DOT Secretary posts inclement-weather restriction signs on a state trunk highway |
| Tennessee TN | None | None | Optional |
| Texas TX | None | None | Never required |
| Utah UT | Posted | Posted passes only | No fixed season |
| Vermont VT | Statewide | Statewide when activated | Live during winter weather when the state activates it |
| Virginia VA | None | None | Never mandated by the state |
| Washington WA | Posted | Posted passes only | Roughly November 1 to April 1, and any time signs are posted |
| West Virginia WV | None | None | Never mandated |
| Wisconsin WI | None | None | Chains are optional |
| Wyoming WY | Posted | Posted passes only | No fixed season |
Sources: state DOT chain-control / winter-driving programs and statutes. Last reviewed July 2026. Chain control is posted per storm and changes in real time — this page shows how the system works; confirm the current order with the state DOT before you rely on it.
How to chain up, quick version
Prepare
Pull into a chain-up area or a wide shoulder. Turn on your hazards. Lay the chains flat behind the drive tires, hooks facing down.
Drape and connect
Drape the chains over the top of the tire. Roll forward slowly until the bottom connectors meet. Hook the inner side first, then the outer.
Tighten
Add the bungee tighteners and pull the slack out. Drive one to two miles slow, stop, and re-tighten. Loose chains chew up tires and fenders.
Drive it easy
Hold 25 to 30 mph on chains. No hard braking, no sharp turns. Pull them off as soon as the road is bare so you do not tear up the pavement.
Tips from the road
- Carry chains that fit your tires and test-fit them before the season starts.
- Practice a dry install once. In the field it runs 15 to 30 minutes per axle.
- Keep heavy gloves, a headlamp, and a tarp in the cab for chaining up.
- Snow tires and traction tires do not replace chains for a heavy truck. When a state posts chains over a weight limit, you mount real chains.
- Carrying chains and mounting them are two separate rules. Some states fine you for not having them aboard even on a clear day.
- Check tension after a mile or two. A slapping chain means stop and re-tighten.
- Plan fuel and food before the pass. Chain-up areas sit below the summit, not on it.
Chain Law FAQ
Is there a federal tire chain law?
When do chain requirements kick in?
Do snow tires count instead of chains?
Do I have to carry chains even when the road is clear?
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