As the cold winter weather prepares to rear its ugly head, studded tires will once again be allowed on Washington’s roadways beginning next week.
Under state law, the tires, which cause between $20 million and $29 million in pavement damage to state-owned asphalt yearly, are only allowed between Nov. 1 and March 31. The tires do not meet the standards for roadways that require chains, meaning chains must be installed over studded tires when required.
Drivers who fail to install tire chains when required face a $500 fine from the Washington State Patrol.
The shift to studded tire season comes as crews with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) begin preparation work for the upcoming winter months. According to WSDOT, crewmembers across the state have stocked storage sheds and inspected the more than 560 state snowplows.
However, drivers also need to take precautions to help reduce the risk.
“Everyone can do their part to keep passes and roadways open. This includes planning trips accordingly if closures occur and staying up to date using WSDOT’s online tools,” said WSDOT Maintenance Operations Manager James Morin. “As we do every winter, crews will ‘swarm to the storm’ and move crews and equipment to hard-hit or priority routes during storms.”