Minnesota Studded Tire Law
Minnesota bans metal studs year-round (Minn. Stat. 169.72) — no seasonal window, no weight distinction, banned for everyone. The one break is for out-of-state rigs: if your truck is registered in a state that allows studs, you may run them while only occasionally in Minnesota, defined as no more than 30 days in any six months, with studs under 5/16 inch. Work or study in-state and even that exception is gone. Illegal studs are a petty misdemeanor, up to $300.
Running studs in Minnesota
Minnesota bans metal studs year-round (Minn. Stat. 169.72) — no seasonal window, no weight distinction, banned for everyone. The one break is for out-of-state rigs: if your truck is registered in a state that allows studs, you may run them while only occasionally in Minnesota, defined as no more than 30 days in any six months, with studs under 5/16 inch. Work or study in-state and even that exception is gone. Illegal studs are a petty misdemeanor, up to $300.
The window and winter-tire rules
- Season: Metal studs prohibited year-round (Minn. Stat. 169.72). Narrow out-of-state carve-out only.
- No M+S/3PMSF traction-tire law and no mandatory chain law; tire chains are allowed for safety. Studs are banned outright, so the traction question in Minnesota is chains, not studs — and studs would never satisfy a chain order here anyway. See the Minnesota chain-law page.
Minnesota Studded Tire FAQ
Are studded tires legal in Minnesota?
When can you use studded tires in Minnesota?
What is the fine for illegal studded tires in Minnesota?
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 Traffic laws change and this can be out of date, so always confirm the current statute and obey posted signs before you rely on it.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 July 2026. Source: https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/169.72. See our Terms & Disclaimer.
More for Minnesota
Check Minnesota before you roll
Live weather, closures, and hazards on one map. Free, no account.
Open Live Map →