Winter tires legal requirement

ASTM International (American Society for Testing and Materials International) is an international standards organization that develops and publishes voluntary technical consensus standards for a wide range of materials, products, systems, and services. The relevant standard for winter tires is ASTM F1805-16, Standard Test Method for Single Wheel Driving Traction in a Straight Line on Snow- and Ice-Covered Surfaces, which evaluates tire performance on snow and ice. It measures the traction of the tires when accelerating in the direction of rolling. [13] Tyres that pass this test may bear the symbol 3PMSF (Three-Peak Mountain Snow Flake). [14] Commercial vehicle operators have a special relationship with the tyres of their vehicles. Tires are expensive, but fines and other costs for operating with a defective or dangerous tire can be much more expensive. A tire is flexible and the area in contact with the road surface, the “tire patch,” flattens out and provides the grip that the tire is supposed to provide. If the tire is overinflated, the footprint is smaller and offers less friction than a properly inflated tire. An unladen tire has a larger contact area, but bends the tire more than the tire is supposed to absorb and can increase wear. The larger surface area also increases the possibility of aquaplaning on wet roads. Again, tires must be inflated to the manufacturer`s specifications to get the best performance. Typical tractors traveling on Interstate and other highways are limited to 80,000 pounds of gross vehicle weight, typically 12,000 pounds on the steered axle and 34,000 pounds per group of double axles. A typical tire size is 11R22.5.

The first two digits “11” indicate the width of the tire by 11 inches. Pounds per inch of tire width provide both an indication of tire traction and a load stress measurement based on the rated tire capacity. Pounds per inch of tire width are determined by dividing the weight carried on the axle group by the number of tires in the group and dividing by the nominal tire width specified by the manufacturer on the tire sidewall. All prefectures in Japan, with the exception of the southernmost prefecture of Okinawa, require motor vehicles to be equipped with winter tires or tire chains when the road is icy or muddy. [16] If the tread grooves of winter tires are worn to more than 50% of their original depth, the tires must be replaced to comply with legal requirements. Drivers will be fined if they fail to meet snow tire or tire chain requirements. In April 1991, national restrictions on studded tyres for passenger cars came into effect, followed by restrictions on commercial vehicles in 1993. [17] Studded tires are still technically legal in Japan, but their use is restricted by environmental law and driving a vehicle with studded tires on dry asphalt or concrete is a criminal offense. [17] Find out when to change your vehicle`s tires – or scroll down to see where winter tires are required by law in Europe. The only factor between a vehicle and the country`s road network is its tires. Tires transmit engine torque and driver control to the road surface for traction and directional control.

The right tyres in good conditions are essential for safe driving – from small cars to larger motorway hauliers. The tyre shall meet the requirements of the vehicle based on the tyre marking. Finally, do not mix radial and bipolis tires. The two types of tires behave differently and can lead to poor, unpredictable and dangerous handling under different conditions. States may limit tire load on the interstate system, but not less than 500 pounds per inch of tire or tread width. Tyre load limits shall not be applied to steered axles (however, steered axle tyres shall be designed to support the actual weight of the steered axle). The use of studded tires in the United States and Canada is regulated by states and provinces as follows:[28] For example, pounds per inch for a two-axle group (8 tires), limited to 34,000 lbs., would be determined on 11-inch-wide tires by: U.S. states and Canadian provinces control the use of winter tires. No state[23] or province (except Quebec) requires winter tires. [24] They can only impose winter tires or chains in certain areas during the winter: states can also specify which wheels of commercial vehicles must have chains – usually at least two-wheel drive, possibly on some trailer tires and also on steering wheels.

However, if a vehicle does not meet track requirements and causes accidents, the absence of winter chains or tires may be sufficient to demonstrate that the driver was inherently negligent. This means that if you slip into another car and cause damage and injury, you could be held liable in a lawsuit. Add the cost of an accident to this snow chain ticket, and complying with winter driving laws seems a lot cheaper. During winter storms or when conditions require, CDOT will implement the Passenger Automobile Traction Act. CDOT can implement passenger car traction and chain laws on any federal highway. During a traction law, all motorists must have EITHER: During severe winter storms, CDOT will implement the Vehicle Chain Act. This is the last safety measure before the highway is closed. All-season tires have smaller tread spaces than winter tires and larger than conventional tires. They are quieter than winter tires on open roads, but less suitable on snow or ice.

[3] Most European countries have regulations that make winter tyres mandatory or require the situational use of winter tyres. As a general rule, it is recommended to use winter tires between October 1 and April 30 or from autumn to Easter. However, in some countries, winter tire laws tell you exactly when you need to make seasonal tire changes. If you are unsure, talk to your local tire specialist who will be aware of the latest requirements and changes. If a law of traction is invoked, your all-season tires may not be cut. If you don`t have the right equipment during traction legislation, you can expect fines as short as $130 or $650. Whether you have all-season tires or winter tires, there are other things to keep in mind to ensure optimal tire safety and performance in snow. Again, every country has slight variations, so check the list or ask your tire specialist. For example, in some areas, the tread depth of winter tires must be at least 1.6 mm, while in others, the tread depth of tires must be 4 mm. Always comply with the legal regulations of your country and take into account that the performance of tires, especially on wet roads, decreases with the depth of the tread.

To ensure reliable traction and excellent grip on snowy and icy surfaces, your tires should always have sufficient tread. In addition, your tires must have the right pressure so that your vehicle can brake in snow and ice with good traction, grip and handling. Please note that laws may be updated and modified based on fluctuating average local temperatures, so we recommend checking local laws before travelling abroad in winter. For example, large parts of the country in the UK rarely experience prolonged periods of extreme cold, and when this happens, most drivers simply choose not to drive. It would not make economic sense to make winter tyres compulsory. Attributes that can distinguish winter tires from “all-season tires” and summer tires include:[6] When studs come into contact with sidewalks, they grind the surface of asphalt or concrete. This can lead to polluting dust and wear and tear on the bike path, which prevents proper drainage. For this reason, studded tires are banned in many countries, at least seasonally. [11] In this example, each tire should be designed for a load of at least 4250 lbs.

Most commercial vehicle tires are designed to weigh well over 5,000 lbs. For example, a new 11-inch drive clasp tire (Uniroyal LD10) is at 6,000 lbs. for dual axis or 545 lb applications. per inch. When the leaves turn brown, the days get shorter and the air is cooler, you know winter is on the right track. This means that it must be time to change your vehicle`s wheels for winter tires. You probably know that winter tyres – sometimes called winter tyres – are mandatory in several European regions, but when and where will the change become mandatory? Studded tires are made with molded holes on the tread of the rubber tire. As a rule, there are 80 to 100 holes shaped per tire for bolt insertion. The insertion is done with a special tool that spreads the rubber hole so that a bolt envelope can be inserted and the flange at the bottom of the sheath can be well fixed to the bottom of the hole. Metal bolts are available at specific heights to match the depths of the holes cast in the tire tread as a function of the tread depths. For this reason, metal bolts can only be used when the tires have not been driven.

A good insertion of the bolt ensures that the metal sheath is flush with the surface of the tread of the tire having only the pin part that protrudes. [10] In 2016, European regulations for winter tyres varied from country to country. The most important aspects of the regulation were whether its use was mandatory and whether studded tyres were allowed. [15] [18] The deeper the snow in which the tire runs, the higher the strength of the tire, as it compacts the snow it encounters and ploughs some of it on both sides.