Are Studded Snow Tires Even Legal In Minnesota, Iowa, and SD?
Some folks prefer putting Studded Snow Tires on their car or truck for the winter season. But are they even legal in Minnesota, Iowa, and South Dakota?
When winter hits in Minnesota, Iowa, and South Dakota icy, slippery roads are always a concern.
Some states feel the metal spikes that are inserted into the snow tires are too harmful to the state highways and roads that they outlawed the studded tires.
The GOOD about Studded Snow Tires:
Studded tires are described as providing the best traction you can get, even when you're encountering ice or packed snow. Studs are lightweight, small metal spikes that are staggered across the tread. They help break through packed snow and ice-covered roads to give you better traction.
The BAD about Studded Snow Tires:
Studs are really only advantageous in icy and hard-packed snow conditions. When winter roads are dry or wet, studs actually decrease traction potential.
Studs are also known to produce additional road noise, including a ticking sound as the studs contact the pavement. And in snowy, slushy, or mixed conditions, the traction advantages of studs are minimal.
So are Studded Snow Tires legal?
- In Minnesota: NO...Metal studs are prohibited in 11 states including Minnesota, Alabama, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Texas, and Wisconsin.
- In Iowa: YES...Studded snow tires are legal in Iowa from Nov. 1 to April 1.
- In South Dakota: YES...Studded tires are permitted from October 1 to April 30. School buses and municipal fire vehicles are permitted to use studs anytime.