South Dakota Studded Tire Law

Running studs in South Dakota

Metal studs are legal October 1 to April 30 and banned May 1 to September 30 (SDCL 32-19-3). No weight cap, so a Class-8 rig can run studs in season. South Dakota also lets you keep retractable studs mounted year-round, but you may only extend them in that same October-to-April window (SDCL 32-19-3.2). Off-season studs are a Class 2 misdemeanor: up to 30 days and a $500 fine.

The window and winter-tire rules

• Season: Metal studs October 1 to April 30 (SDCL 32-19-3); prohibited May 1 to September 30. Retractable studs may stay mounted year-round but may only be extended October 1 to April 30 (SDCL 32-19-3.2).
• No M+S/3PMSF traction-tire law. When weather turns bad, South Dakota can restrict a state trunk highway to four-wheel-drive vehicles or to vehicles equipped with chains, studded snow tires, or snow tires with adequate tread (SDCL 32-19-3.1) — so unlike most states, in-season studded snow tires are explicitly one of the equipment types that satisfy such a restriction here. Two catches: outside the October-to-April window studs are illegal no matter the weather, and if a sign specifically orders chains, studs still do not count as chains. See the South Dakota chain-law page.

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