Deadline for WA drivers to change out winter-season studded tires, avoid fines is soon
Washington state drivers have until the end of the day March 31 to remove studded tires from their vehicles, according to a news release from the state Department of Transportation.
Studded tires are tires embedded with small metal spikes, or studs, to provide traction on snowy or icy roads. In Washington state, the studs must be metal tipped with tungsten carbide, installed properly on the tires and meet other requirements in state law.
There’s a $137 fine for drivers caught with studded tires past the Monday deadline, and the Washington State Patrol might start issuing tickets as soon as April 1. The agency encourages drivers to plan ahead to ensure automotive centers are able to accommodate them, as the weekend before March 31 might get busy.
The state’s legal window for studded tires is Nov. 1 to March 31 each year, without exceptions for drivers from out-of-state or other individual cases, according to the release.
WSDOT is allowed per state law to extend the deadline depending on weather forecasts, but there haven’t been signs of weather to warrant an extension. Drivers traveling through mountain passes where late-season snow is possible are advised to use approved traction tires and have chains on hand. WSDOT crews will watch weather and road conditions and “respond quickly to any spring snow,” the release said.
“Studded tires cause between $20 million to $29 million in damage to Washington’s state-owned roads each winter, in addition to damaging city and county roads,” WSDOT Maintenance Operations Manager James Morin said in the release. “There are many alternative traction options available. We encourage drivers to consider non-stud, winter-tread tires, which provide excellent traction without the road damage caused by metal studs.”
Your auto shop can recommend which tires are best for your car, and most shops provide tire-changing services. Professionals recommend replacing your winter tires when temperatures reach the high 40s with regular-season tires, like summer, all-season and all-weather tires, The News Tribune reported last year.
You can also get your tires professionally de-studded, but not all shops offer that service, and it’s better to switch out your tires entirely if you have winter tires because the material wears down more quickly in warm temperatures, The News Tribune reported. Tires can’t be re-studded after the spikes are removed.
