Are studded tires legal in Minnesota?
Minnesota law bars studded tires, with narrow exceptions.
The studded tire rule in Minnesota
Barred
Minnesota law bars studded tires, with narrow exceptions.
Minnesota bans studded tires on its highways for residents, with narrow exceptions for occasional visitors from states that allow them and permitted rural mail carriers.
Except as provided in this section, no tire on a vehicle moved on a highway shall have on its periphery any block, stud, flange, cleat, or spike or any other protuberances of any material other than rubber which projects beyond the tread of the traction surface of the tire.Tires; restrictions, Minn. Stat. 169.72, read September 22, 2026. Read it at the source
Exceptions to the Minnesota rule
A vehicle registered in a state or province that allows studs may use them while only occasionally in Minnesota, meaning no more than 30 days in any six month period, within size limits.
a person, operating a motor vehicle properly licensed and registered in another state or province of a foreign country which authorizes the use of tires with metal studs or wire embedded tires on its highways, may operate the motor vehicle with tires having metal type studs or with tires having wire embedded therein on the highways of this state while occasionally within the state, and such use while occasionally within the state is not unlawfulMinn. Stat. 169.72. Read it at the source
The visitor exception does not cover people who work or study in Minnesota.
a person whose regular place of employment is within the state or who is a student at an educational institution located within the state, shall not operate a vehicle, regardless of its place of registration, upon any highway within the state if such vehicle is equipped with tires which would be unauthorized were the vehicle registered in this state.Minn. Stat. 169.72. Read it at the source
A rural mail carrier whose route is less than a quarter paved may get a permit for studs, valid November 1 through April 15.
A permit under this subdivision is valid beginning November 1 of a calendar year and expires on April 15 of the following calendar year.Minn. Stat. 169.72. Read it at the source
Minnesota’s chain law
Minnesota has no chain requirement law; chains of reasonable size are permitted when snow or ice makes skidding likely.
tire chains of reasonable proportions upon any vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice, or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to skidMinn. Stat. 169.72, subd. 1(d), read September 22, 2026. Read it at the source
Studded tire windows in neighbouring states
The dashed line marks today.
- WisconsinBarred
- IowaAllowed in seasonNov 1 to Apr 1
- South DakotaAllowed in seasonOct 1 to Apr 30
- North DakotaAllowed in seasonOct 15 to Apr 15
Minnesota studded tire questions
Compiled September 22, 2026 from Tires; restrictions, Minn. Stat. 169.72 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.