Are studded tires legal in Virginia?
Virginia allows studded tires from October 15 through April 15.
The studded tire rule in Virginia
Allowed in season
Virginia allows studded tires from October 15 through April 15.
Virginia allows studded tires from October 15 to April 15 on vehicles of 10,000 pounds or less, with small studs covering a small share of the tread.
The use of studded tires shall be permissible only from October 15 to April 15.Cleats, etc., on tires; chains; tires with studs, Code of Virginia § 46.2-1044, read September 22, 2026. Read it at the source
Studded tire season 2026-27 in Virginia
The dashed line marks today.
Exceptions to the Virginia rule
Only vehicles with a gross weight of 10,000 pounds or less, with studs projecting no more than one sixteenth of an inch when compressed and covering no more than three percent of the traction surface.
It shall also be permissible to use on any vehicle whose gross weight does not exceed 10,000 pounds tires with studs which project no more than one-sixteenth of an inch beyond the tread of the traction surface of the tire when compressed if the studs cover no more than three percent of the traction surface of the tire.Va. Code § 46.2-1044. Read it at the source
The section does not apply to law enforcement, firefighting, emergency medical services, or VDOT maintenance and emergency response vehicles.
The provisions of this section shall not apply to any (i) law-enforcement vehicle operated by or under the direction of a federal, state, or local law-enforcement officer; (ii) vehicle used to fight fire, including publicly owned state forest warden vehicles; (iii) emergency medical services vehicle; or (iv) vehicle owned or operated by the Virginia Department of Transportation or its contractors in maintenance and emergency response operations.Va. Code § 46.2-1044. Read it at the source
Farm machinery may use protuberances that will not injure the highway.
It shall be permissible, however, to use on the highways farm machinery having protuberances which will not injure the highwayVa. Code § 46.2-1044. Read it at the source
Virginia’s chain law
Tire chains of reasonable size are allowed when snow, ice or other conditions make sliding or skidding likely.
to use tire chains of reasonable proportions when required for safety because of snow, ice, or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to slide or skid.Code of Virginia § 46.2-1044, read September 22, 2026. Read it at the source
Studded tire windows in neighbouring states
The dashed line marks today.
- MarylandRestrictedNov 1 to Mar 31
- West VirginiaAllowed in seasonNov 1 to Apr 15
- KentuckyChain law
- TennesseeAllowed in seasonOct 1 to Apr 15
- North CarolinaNo seasonal dates
Virginia studded tire questions
Compiled September 22, 2026 from Cleats, etc., on tires; chains; tires with studs, Code of Virginia § 46.2-1044 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.