Connecticut Tire Chain Laws

How Connecticut handles chains

Connecticut has no chain-up law for trucks. Chains and studded tires are legal November 15 through April 30 (C.G.S. 14-98), but nothing is required in normal weather. No sign turns a chain order on, because the state runs none. When a storm is bad, the governor can ban some or all commercial vehicles from the limited-access highways, I-84, I-91, and I-95 among them. That ban is the real tool here. Check CT roads (ctroads.org) and the Governor's alerts.

When, where, and what counts

• When required: No standing chain order. Chains and metal nonskid tires are legal November 15 through April 30 (C.G.S. 14-98), but nothing is required in normal weather. When a storm is severe the governor can issue an order banning some or all commercial vehicles from limited-access highways. That ban, not a chain order, is the enforcement tool.
• Where: No standing chain zone. Storm orders cover every limited-access highway, including I-84, I-91, I-95, and I-395. Keep off the Merritt and Wilbur Cross Parkways (Route 15) and the Milford Parkway (SR 796) in any weather. Those roads are closed at all times to box trucks, tractor-trailers, all trailers, RVs and campers, rental trucks, and any vehicle more than 8 ft tall, 24 ft long, or 7 ft 6 in wide (excluding mirrors). Combination-plated vehicles are barred too unless 7,500 lb GVW or less. For voluntary traction, the same interstates carry the worst grades.
• Applies to: No standing chain duty on any vehicle. Each storm order sets its own vehicle class. The February 12, 2024 order banned only empty and/or tandem tractor-trailers on limited-access highways. The January 24 and February 22, 2026 orders banned all commercial vehicles on limited-access highways, which the Governor's releases describe as permitted vehicles, trucks, RVs, tractor trailers, tankers, and vehicles with trailers. Both 2026 orders exempted emergency response and recovery vehicles, including public safety vehicles, utility vehicles, and vehicles carrying essential personnel or supplies. The February 2026 release names food, fuel, and medical supplies as examples.
• Chains vs traction devices: Link chains, cable chains, and studded tires are permitted November 15 through April 30 (C.G.S. 14-98). AutoSock and textile devices are not addressed. No device is required, so snow tires alone are lawful.
• Check the live order: CT roads at ctroads.org, plus the Governor's press releases and orders on portal.ct.gov/governor, for the current commercial-vehicle ban status.
• Fine: No penalty for skipping chains, because nothing requires them. C.G.S. 14-98 does penalize metal touching the road, except tires with a metal nonskid device from November 15 through April 30. A violation is an infraction for a first offense and a fine of up to $200 for a later one. The Judicial Branch schedule effective October 1, 2025 lists $117 total due for a first offense and $150 for a subsequent offense (mail-in). Trucks, tractors, trailers, and semitrailers holding a permit from the Commissioner of Transportation are exempt. The storm orders set no penalty. An order issued under C.G.S. 3-6a, as the February 2024 tractor-trailer ban was, is an infraction under C.G.S. 3-6a(b), listed at $92 total due. The January and February 2026 bans were issued under C.G.S. 28-9(b)(4), which has no penalty clause, and neither order states one. Chapter 517's general penalty (C.G.S. 28-22) makes violating the chapter a class D felony, but no official source applies it to truck-ban violations.

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