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North Dakota Studded Tires Laws (2026)
Conditional: Studded tires are legal in North Dakota from October 15 through April 15, with studs no more than 1/16 inch beyond the tread; outside that window they are prohibited except on schoolbuses, which may use them at any time during the year.
Studded tires are legal in North Dakota from October 15 through April 15, with studs no more than 1/16 inch beyond the tread; outside that window they are prohibited except on schoolbuses, which may use them at any time during the year. See N.D. Cent. Code 39-21-40 and the North Dakota Highway Patrol.
Official source: ndlegis.gov →
General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.
Studded Tires in states bordering North Dakota
The same rule in each neighboring state LawLert has verified, from that state’s own official source.
- MinnesotaRestricted
Minnesota prohibits studded tires for residents. The only limited exceptions are for those from out of state and for rural mail carriers with a permit. See Minn. Stat. 169.72.
Verified Jun 20, 2026 · Source: revisor.mn.gov · Full Minnesota rule →
- MontanaConditional
Studded tires are legal in Montana only from October 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027. …
Verified Oct 3, 2026 · Source: mca.legmt.gov · Full Montana rule →
- South DakotaConditional
Metal-stud tires are legal in South Dakota only from October 1 through April 30. The statute separately allows a school bus or a fire-fighting vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of over 5,000 pounds, owned or operated by a unit of local government, to run metal studs at any time. A violation is a Class 2 misdemeanor. See S.D. Codified Laws 32-19-3.
Verified Oct 12, 2026 · Source: sdlegislature.gov · Full South Dakota rule →
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