Kentucky Tire Chain Laws

How Kentucky handles chains

Kentucky has no chain-up law for trucks. Chains are allowed, not required. State law limits cross chains to 3/4 inch thick, spaced no more than 10 inches apart around the tire (KRS 189.190). No R-1 levels or 'Chains Required' signs get posted here. Running a chained wheel on a highway not covered with ice, without a 6-inch ice shoe, carries a fine of up to $15 (KRS 189.990). Check goky.ky.gov before an eastern mountain grade.

When, where, and what counts

• When required: Optional. Kentucky activates no chain order and posts no chain-control or 'Chains Required' signs. You may run chains for traction during snow and ice. You are never ordered to.
• Where: No mandate anywhere. The eastern mountains are where you would chain by choice: Pine Mountain on US-23 and the Cumberland grades.
• Applies to: No CMV chain mandate. The permissive rule applies to any vehicle, with no weight threshold.
• Chains vs traction devices: Cross chains must be no more than 3/4 inch thick and spaced no more than 10 inches apart around the tire (KRS 189.190). Do not run a chained wheel on a highway that is not covered with ice unless the wheel rests on an ice shoe at least 6 inches wide. No posted device levels exist, so cable chains or AutoSock are a driver choice, not a state-graded pass.
• Check the live order: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet road conditions at goky.ky.gov. Kentucky retired its 511 phone line, so use the GoKY website.
• Fine: No chain-up fine, because chains are not required. Running a chained wheel on a highway not covered with ice, without a 6-inch ice shoe, carries a fine of up to $15 (KRS 189.990(3)(a)). Breaking the cross-chain size limits carries a fine of $20 to $100 for each offense (KRS 189.990(1)(a)).

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