Are studded tires legal in South Dakota?

Yes, within a season. South Dakota allows studded tires from October 1 through April 30. SDCL 32-19-3 reads: "no person may operate during the time period of May first to September thirtieth of each year, upon the highways of this state, a motor vehicle equipped with pneumatic tires in which there are embedded metal studs or wires of tungsten steel or other similar metal. However, any motor vehicle may be operated during the time period extending from October first to April thirtieth"

From October 1. For the 2026-27 season that is Thursday, October 1, 2026, and the window runs through Friday, April 30, 2027.

April 30 is the last day of the window, which for 2026-27 is Friday, April 30, 2027.

School buses, and fire fighting vehicles over five thousand pounds owned or operated by local government, may run studs at any time.

South Dakota has no chain requirement law; chains of reasonable size are permitted when snow or ice makes sliding likely. The statute reads: "it shall be permissible to use 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 slide or skid."

North Dakota, October 15 through April 15; Minnesota, barred; Iowa, November 1 through April 1; Nebraska, November 1 through April 1; Wyoming, no seasonal dates; Montana, October 1 through May 31. Each state's page quotes its own statute.