Are studded snow tires legal in Texas? Here’s what to know before the freeze gets here
With weather conditions in Texas soon expected to be cooler and wetter, storms and snowfall are more likely to happen, necessitating that Texans take steps to drive safely on slippery roads.
One precaution they may consider is purchasing studded tires, which have metal spikes that dig into snow and ice, improving acceleration and braking to give you better traction.
Texas is one of only 11 states that prohibit the use of metal studs in snow tires, though the state does allow tires with rubber studs, according to Tirebuyer.
According to the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association, studded tires are “permitted as long as the studs do not damage highway and are rubber.”
The Texas Transportation Code states the following:
A tire used on a moving vehicle may not have on its periphery a block, stud, flange, cleat, or spike or other protuberance of a material other than rubber that projects beyond the tread of the traction surface, unless the protuberance:
- does not injure the highway; or
- is a tire chain of reasonable proportion that is used as required for safety because of a condition that might cause the vehicle to skid.
What tires to purchase for Texas snow
Car experts say that, because substantial snow is so infrequent in Texas, getting snow tires for your car may be overkill.
“Snow isn’t a certainty for every part of Texas — and it’s definitely not frequent enough to necessitate snow tires for most drivers, so many Texans rock summer or all-season tires year-round,” says Berryman Products.
All-season tires are the best choice for Texas drivers because they’re designed to provide traction across a wide range of conditions, including snow and ice, according to Carizma Motors. Most vehicles already come with all-season tires.
For trucks, some of the top picks for all-season tires are the Bridgestone Dueler LX and the Michelin Defender LTX M/S, according to Discount Tire. For your car, consider the Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady, Michelin CrossClimate2, Arizonian Silver Edition All Season, Yokohama YK-GTX, Falken Pro G5 A/S or Sentury Touring.
All-season tires, however, have a much worse stopping distance than snow tires, so it’s important to be extremely cautious when driving.
