Failing to follow chain requirements while traveling on Washington passes can result in $500 fine

Are you planning on traveling over any of Washington's mountain passes this winter by vehicle? Heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures on the passes during the winter means driving conditions worsen and preparation for the drive is necessary.

Here is what you need to know about snow chains, studded tires and traction tire requirements for this winter season.

Tire chain requirements and fines in Washington

The Washington State Department of Transportation advises that people traveling through higher elevations carry tire chains whenever winter weather is possible.

Four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive vehicles that are under five tons do not need to install chains during a "chains required" notice. According to the WSDOT, all drivers "must carry chains with them in case conditions worsen and they're required to install chains during a 'chains required on all vehicles' notice."

Vehicles hauling trailers that do not have a combination weight that exceeds five tons must follow regular chain requirements, and only the pulling vehicle is required to be chained when there is a "chains required" notice.

If the combined weight of the vehicle, trailer and load exceed 10,000 pounds, both the vehicle and the trailer must be chained when there is a "chains required" notice, according to the WSDOT. The WSDOT suggests consulting the commercial vehicles division for chain placement on the vehicle and trailer since placement is based on weight.

According to Washington state law, drivers who fail to use or carry approved tire chains face a $500 fine.

Chain Placement

Front-wheel drive: install chains on the front tires.

Rear-wheel drive: install chains on the back tires.

Studded and traction tires

Studded tires and traction tires are also approved to be used as traction devices whenever they are required by the WSDOT.

Studded tires

Studded tires are legal in Washington from Nov. 1 — March 31. Drivers that use studded tires before and after those dates may face a fine. Although studded tires are legal through the winter season, they do not satisfy chain requirements and chains may need to be installed if they are required on your vehicle, according to the WSDOT.

According to Washington State law, studded tires need to meet specific requirements:

• Studs must be metal, tipped with tungsten carbide.
• Metal studs must be inserted only in a new tire or a newly-recapped tire which has molded in the tread the "pin-holes" into which metal studs are to be inserted. Studs must not be inserted in any new tire or newly-recapped tire after it has been driven on a vehicle.
• Metal studs may be installed only by the tire manufacturer, or by a tire dealer or tire jobber who shall install the metal studs in conformance with the manufacturer's specifications.
• When a tire is sold or offered for sale as a studded tire or when studs are installed in a new tire or a newly recapped tire, there must be a minimum of seventy metal studs evenly spaced around the tread of the tire.
• A tire must contain a minimum of fifty-six metal studs at all times in order to qualify as a "studded tire" or as an approved traction device.
• Metal studs must not be installed in any tire of a vehicle which has a gross vehicle weight of five tons or over.

Traction tires

Traction tires must have a 1/8 inch tread and must be permanently labeled on at least one side with the words "mud and snow" or any contraction that uses "M" and "S". The tire can also be marked with an all season label with a mountain or snowflake symbol.

Other requirements for traction tires according to Washington State law are:

• A relatively aggressive tread pattern designed primarily to provide additional starting, stopping, and driving traction on snow or ice. The tread must have ribs, lugs, blocks or buttons the edges of which are at an angle greater than thirty degrees to the tire circumferential centerline.
• On at least one side of the tread design, the shoulder lugs protrude at least 1/2-inch in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of travel.