Are studded tires legal in Michigan?
Michigan law bars studded tires, with narrow exceptions.
The studded tire rule in Michigan
Barred
Michigan law bars studded tires, with narrow exceptions.
Michigan State Police say studded tires are in practical terms not legal, because the state only allows studs that pass a pavement wear standard and no maker has shown one that does.
Are studded tires legal in Michigan? In practical terms, no.Traffic Laws FAQs, Michigan State Police, read September 22, 2026. Read it at the source
Exceptions to the Michigan rule
Police vehicles, ambulances and rural mail carriers driving their own vehicles may use studs.
A person may operate on a highway a vehicle which has a pneumatic tire in which are inserted ice grips or tire studs if the person is a law enforcement officer operating a vehicle owned by a law enforcement agency, a person operating an ambulance, or a United States postal service rural carrier driving a vehicle the rural carrier owns and maintains as a prerequisite to employment in the postal service.MCL 257.710; Mich. Admin. Code R 247.171 to R 247.175. Read it at the source
MSP notes no stud maker has shown MDOT a product that meets the wear standard.
Note: to date no manufacturer of tire studs has supplied information to the Michigan Department of Transportation that their product meets or exceeds the required pavement wear specifications.MCL 257.710; Mich. Admin. Code R 247.171 to R 247.175. Read it at the source
If an approved stud ever existed, the rules would allow it November 15 to April 1, or October 1 to May 1 in the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula.
Traction devices permitted under these rules may be used only between November 15 and April 1 of the succeeding year except in the Upper Peninsula and the northern Lower Peninsula, where, because of extreme winter snow and ice conditions, they may be used between October 1 and May 1 of the succeeding year.MCL 257.710; Mich. Admin. Code R 247.171 to R 247.175. Read it at the source
Other traction devices
Tires with thin embedded wire are allowed if little metal touches the road.
A person may operate on a highway a vehicle which has a pneumatic tire in which wire of .075 inches in diameter or less is embedded if the tire is constructed so that the percent of metal in contact with the highway does not exceed 5% of the total tire area in contact with the roadwayTraffic Laws FAQs, Michigan State Police. Read it at the source
Michigan’s chain law
Michigan has no chain requirement law; chains of reasonable size are permitted when snow or ice makes skidding likely.
A person may also use a tire chain of reasonable proportion upon a vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice, or other condition tending to cause a vehicle to skid.MCL 257.710(b), read September 22, 2026. Read it at the source
Michigan studded tire questions
Compiled September 22, 2026 from Traffic Laws FAQs, Michigan State Police and the other sources linked beside each quote. Statutes change between winters, and a transportation department can extend a window where its statute allows, so the linked source is the one to check before a trip. Every state is in the studded tire laws by state table.