Kentucky Studded Tires Laws (2026)

Permitted: Metal studded tires are legal year-round in Kentucky — no statute prohibits them.

PermittedVerified Jun 20, 2026

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Metal studded tires are legal year-round in Kentucky — no statute prohibits them. Kentucky's vehicle-equipment law (KRS Ch. 189) has no studded-tire ban.

Official source: apps.legislature.ky.gov →

General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.

Studded Tires in states bordering Kentucky

The same rule in each neighboring state LawLert has verified, from that state’s own official source.

IllinoisRestricted
Illinois prohibits studded tires. They're allowed from November 15 through April 1 only for rural mail carriers or disabled-plate owners in unincorporated areas. See 625 ILCS 5/12-405.
Verified Jun 20, 2026 · Source: ilga.gov · Full Illinois rule →
IndianaConditional
Studded tires are legal in Indiana only from October 1 through May 1. Tires with retractable studs may be used year-round if the studs stay retracted outside that window. See Ind. Code 9-19-18-3.
Verified Jul 26, 2026 · Source: faqs.in.gov · Full Indiana rule →
MissouriConditional
Metal or carbide studded tires are legal in Missouri only from November 1 through March 31. They're prohibited from April 1 to November 1. See Mo. Rev. Stat. 307.171.
Verified Jun 20, 2026 · Source: revisor.mo.gov · Full Missouri rule →
OhioConditional
Studded tires are legal in Ohio only from November 1 through April 15. They're prohibited the rest of the year. See Ohio Rev. Code 5589.081.
Verified Jun 20, 2026 · Source: codes.ohio.gov · Full Ohio rule →
TennesseeConditional
Studded tires are legal in Tennessee only from October 1 through April 15. They're not allowed on vehicles over 9,000 pounds, except school and emergency vehicles. See Tenn. Code 55-9-106.
Verified Aug 3, 2026 · Source: law.justia.com · Full Tennessee rule →
VirginiaConditional
Studded tires are legal in Virginia from October 15 through April 15 for most vehicles, with studs no more than 1/16 inch beyond the tread covering no more than 3% of the traction surface, on vehicles of 10,000 pounds or less; outside that window they are prohibited except for the vehicles section 46.2-1044 exempts. …
Verified Oct 15, 2026 · Source: law.lis.virginia.gov · Full Virginia rule →
West VirginiaConditional
Studded tires are legal in West Virginia only from November 1 through April 15; outside that window a tire on a vehicle moved on a highway may not carry any stud or other non-rubber protuberance projecting beyond the tread. Studded tires on vehicles other than school buses may not be operated at a recommended air pressure greater than 40 pounds per square inch. Tire chains of reasonable proportions are allowed whenever snow, ice or other skid conditions require them. See W. Va. Code 17C-15-37.
Verified Oct 16, 2026 · Source: code.wvlegislature.gov · Full West Virginia rule →

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