New Hampshire Tire Chain Laws
New Hampshire has no chain law for trucks and no statute that requires or bans chains for a commercial rig. Chains and studded tires are permitted for safety, and the NH CDL manual advises carrying chains for winter driving. No sign turns a chain order on here, because the state runs none. The Notch grades on I-93 and US 302 are where you might want traction. Drive to conditions and slow when it gets slick. Check New England 511 (newengland511.org) before a storm run.
A detail here is flagged medium confidence. Confirm with the state DOT before you rely on it.
How New Hampshire handles chains
New Hampshire has no chain law for trucks and no statute that requires or bans chains for a commercial rig. Chains and studded tires are permitted for safety, and the NH CDL manual advises carrying chains for winter driving. No sign turns a chain order on here, because the state runs none. The Notch grades on I-93 and US 302 are where you might want traction. Drive to conditions and slow when it gets slick. Check New England 511 (newengland511.org) before a storm run.
When, where, and what counts
- When required: Chains stay optional. New Hampshire has no chain statute, no chain-up order to activate, and no posted-pass sign system. The NH CDL manual advises carrying chains for winter driving, but no rule requires them.
- Where: No mandate anywhere. For voluntary traction, the Notch grades carry the worst of it: Franconia Notch on I-93, Crawford Notch on US 302, and the Kancamagus Highway on NH 112. None of these require chains.
- Applies to: No commercial vehicle is bound. Chains are permitted on any vehicle for safety, with no weight threshold and no posted class trigger.
- Chains vs traction devices: Link chains, cable chains, and studded tires are all permitted for safety. AutoSock and textile devices are not addressed by statute. Nothing is required, so snow tires alone are lawful.
- Check the live order: New England 511 at newengland511.org, or NHDOT road conditions, for live winter status.
- Fine: None. With no chain statute there is no chain-up fine. The federal drive-to-conditions duty (49 CFR 392.14) still governs.
New Hampshire Chain Law FAQ
Does New Hampshire have a tire chain law?
When are chains required in New Hampshire?
Where do New Hampshire's chain requirements apply?
Does New Hampshire accept AutoSock or alternative traction devices?
Reference information for planning, not legal advice. Traffic laws change and this can be out of date, so always confirm the current statute and obey posted signs before you rely on it. Last reviewed September 2026. Source: https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/NHTOC/NHTOC-XXI-266.htm. See our Terms & Disclaimer.
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