Tire chains and traction devices: how to choose, install and follow chain laws
Find a set that fits your tires, practice putting it on and drive safely with it
Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation built this guide from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Washington, Oregon and Colorado transportation departments, and state and federal traction device rules. Every source is listed at the end.
Why traction devices matter on winter roads
Federal highway officials estimate that more than 1,300 people are killed and more than 116,800 are hurt each year in crashes on snowy, slushy or icy pavement [1]. Collisions during falling snow or sleet kill nearly 900 people a year [1].
A traction device is something you add to a tire to help it grip. Oregon’s winter guide counts link chains, cable chains and other devices that attach to the vehicle, wheel or tire to add grip on ice or snow [2]. Washington uses the term alternative traction device for products that differ from metal chains in design or material but grip at least as well [3]. The term also covers automatic chains that spin under the drive wheels as they lose grip [3].
Our guide to driving in snow and ice covers skids and black ice. This guide covers the gear: fit, installation, chain laws and driving with it.
Types of traction devices, compared
Each type trades grip, weight and clearance. Your manual and state law decide which you can use.
Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Types of traction devices compared
| Type | What it is | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Link chains | Steel links in a ladder or diamond pattern | Strong grip, heavier, needs the most room |
| Cable chains | Steel cables wrapped in rollers or sleeves | Lighter and slimmer, often fit tighter wheel wells |
| Fabric socks | Textile cover pulled over the tire | Light and quick. Some are on Colorado’s approved list [4] |
| Automatic chains | Chains on a wheel that swings under the tire | An alternative device in Washington [3] |
| Traction or studded tires | Special tires, not attachments | Allowed instead of chains only in some cases [5] |
Washington holds alternative devices to a test standard. A product must pass durability tests and starting and stopping tests on snow and ice [6]. It must match or beat a tire chain tested the same way [6].
Check compatibility before you buy
Fit matters most. A device that is the wrong size can loosen or fall off. One that rubs can damage brake hoses and sensor wires.
Start with the owner’s manual
The manual may tell you whether devices are allowed at all, which axle they go on and whether only slim, low profile types fit. If it says not to use chains, follow it. A slimmer device, a sock or a different tire may be your only option, so confirm that your states accept it.
Match the exact tire size
Traction devices are sized to the tire, not the vehicle. NHTSA notes that the right tire size is listed in your owner’s manual [7]. It also appears on the Tire and Loading Information label, on the edge of the driver’s door or the door frame [7]. Also read the size on the sidewall of the tires you actually run, such as 225/65R17. If you switch to winter tires on different wheels, buy chains for that set.
Know your drive wheels
Washington’s rule puts the required device on the drive tires [8]. That means the front tires on a front wheel drive car and the rear tires on a rear wheel drive truck. With all wheel drive, use the axle your manual names.
Who uses traction devices and where to get them
These groups often carry traction devices:
- Drivers who cross mountain passes or head to ski areas.
- RV owners and anyone towing in snow country.
- Rural residents with steep or unplowed roads.
- Fleet, delivery, utility, school bus and transit drivers.
- Road agency and contractor crews who work in storms.
Passenger vehicle chains and socks are sold at auto parts stores, tire shops, outdoor and farm supply stores and the dealer’s parts department. Truck and fleet chains come from heavy truck parts dealers and roadside equipment suppliers. Shop before the first storm.
Do not plan to buy at the pass. In Washington, permitted chain installers on I-90 may not sell chains [9]. If you choose a sock or other alternative device, check that each state accepts it. Washington accepts devices on its State Patrol’s approved list [8], and Colorado posts its own list [4].
Chain laws: three state examples
Each state writes its own chain rules for cars and light trucks [4, 8, 10]. Transportation departments post signs when roads turn bad. What matters is who is exempt, what counts as a traction tire and what happens if you ignore a sign.
Washington
When traction signs are posted, you may not enter the area without the device the sign calls for on your drive tires [8]. When chains are required, an all wheel drive vehicle is exempt only if all wheels are in gear and it has approved traction devices, such as traction tires [8]. It must also carry chains for at least one set of drive tires [8]. An approved traction tire needs at least 4/32 inch of center tread, a snow tread pattern and a mud and snow or mountain and snowflake marking [11].
Gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) is the most a vehicle is built to weigh fully loaded. Vehicles over 10,000 pounds GVWR must mount chains when chains are required and carry at least two extra [8]. Plastic chains are not allowed for them [8]. State law also bars metal tire studs from April 1 to November 1, with some exceptions [12].
Oregon
Driving on a highway posted for traction tires or chains without the required gear is a Class C traffic violation for most drivers [10]. Some signs only require you to carry chains or traction tires that are the right size and number for your vehicle [5]. Under signs that require use, a vehicle rated 10,000 pounds or less that is not towing may use chains or traction tires [5]. If it is towing, or rated over 10,000 pounds, it must use chains [5].
Oregon counts studded tires and tires rated for severe snow as traction tires [13]. Studded tires are legal from November 1 through March 31 [5]. The all wheel drive exemption is narrow. A passenger vehicle or truck may skip chains only if it meets every one of these conditions [10]:
- Weighs 6,500 pounds or less unloaded.
- Powers both front and rear wheels.
- Carries chains.
- Has traction tires on all wheels.
- Is not towing.
- Is not losing traction while stopping, turning or moving.
Colorado
Under Colorado’s Traction Law, you need four wheel or all wheel drive with mud and snow, winter or all weather tires with at least 3/16 inch of tread [4]. Otherwise, you need chains or an approved alternative device [4]. Under the Passenger Vehicle Chain Law, every vehicle needs chains or an approved device [4]. Signs, the state’s road condition website and traffic alerts tell drivers when a law is active [4].
Breaking the rules can cost $100 plus a $33 surcharge [4]. If it leads to a lane closure, the penalty can reach $500 plus a $157 surcharge [4].
Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Chain rules in three states
| State | Traction tire standard | All wheel drive when chains are required | Towing or heavy vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 4/32 inch tread plus snow marking [11] | Exempt with all wheels in gear, approved devices and chains carried [8] | Over 10,000 lbs GVWR: chains on, two extra carried [8] |
| Oregon | Studded or severe snow rated [13] | Exempt only if all six conditions are met [10] | Towing or over 10,000 lbs: chains [5] |
| Colorado | 3/16 inch tread with snow or all weather rating [4] | Chain Law: chains or approved device for all [4] | Check state commercial vehicle rules |
Practice first: a home installation routine
Do not learn chains on a dark, icy roadside. Follow your device’s instructions, but most practice runs look like this:
- Pick a dry day and park on flat ground with room on both sides.
- Read the instructions. Write down the top speed and when to retighten.
- Lay out the device, waterproof gloves, a kneeling pad, a headlamp and a bag for wet chains.
- Untangle the device and lay it out the way the instructions show.
- Drape it over the drive tire, tuck it behind and connect the inner fastener before the outer one.
- Pull it snug and fit any tightener in the kit.
- Drive forward slowly for the distance the instructions give, then stop and retighten.
- Check that nothing touches brake hoses, wires or the suspension. With front chains, turn the wheel fully each way and look again.
- Take it off and repack it so the first item you need is on top.
Repeat until you can do it with gloves on.
When you chain up on the road
Oregon’s winter guide advises drivers to chain up early [2]. Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation gives every winter driver the same advice. Once you are stuck, the job is harder and riskier. Use a marked chain up area or a wide pullout well off the road, never a travel lane. Turn on your hazard lights, set the parking brake and wear something bright. Our roadside breakdown safety guide explains how to stay safe beside traffic.
In Washington, permitted installers sometimes work at signed spots on I-90 for set fees, such as $25 to install chains on a passenger vehicle [9]. They do not have to show up, so the state says every driver should be able to install their own chains [9].
Driving with chains on: speed and control
Chains help you start, steer and stop on snow and ice, but they do not make it a dry road.
- Respect the device’s speed limit. The instructions list a top speed. Treat it as a hard limit, and go slower if a lower speed is posted.
- Start gently. Spinning tires can break links or tear fabric.
- Brake early and softly. Stopping on ice still takes far longer than on dry pavement.
- Listen. A slapping or clanking sound often means a loose or broken chain. Pull well off the road and check.
- Remove them on bare pavement. Dry roads wear devices out fast and can break links that strike the car.
Oregon’s law offers a test. Its all wheel drive exemption ends if the vehicle loses traction while stopping, turning or moving [10]. If you are slipping, it is time to chain up or turn back.
Common mistakes and limits
Most traction device problems come from a few habits:
- Buying for the vehicle model instead of the exact tire size.
- Leaving the device in its box until the first storm.
- Putting it on the wrong axle.
- Skipping the retightening stop.
- Assuming all wheel drive exempts you everywhere [4, 8, 10].
- Using a device a state on your route does not accept.
- Counting on chains to make up for worn tires.
That last one matters. NHTSA says tires should be replaced when tread wears down to 2/32 inch [7]. Colorado’s Traction Law asks for far more: 3/16 inch [4]. And no device makes a closed road safe. When conditions get bad enough, waiting is the safest choice.
Care, storage and when to replace
After each use, rinse off road salt and let the device dry fully before you pack it. Chains rust and fabric breaks down if they are stored wet. Inspect it each fall and after each trip. Look for thin or cracked links, frayed cables, bent hooks and thin spots in fabric. For approved alternative devices, Washington requires makers to describe a wear sign that officers can check [6]. Replace the device when you see that sign.
Check your tires at the same time. NHTSA advises at least 2/32 inch of tread on all tires and notes that tire pressure drops as temperatures fall [14]. Our guide to vehicle maintenance for safety covers more tire checks.
RVs, rural properties and fleets
RVs and towing. Motorhomes and trucks pulling trailers often have large tires and may top 10,000 pounds GVWR. That can bring heavy vehicle rules, such as Washington’s spare chain rule [8]. In Oregon, a towing vehicle must use chains when signs require chains or traction tires [5].
Rural property owners. Keep a set that fits the vehicle you use on steep driveways and farm roads, stored in it all winter.
Fleets and road crews. In Washington, a heavy truck with one drive axle must chain one tire on each side of it [8]. With two drive axles, it must chain one tire on each side of one axle. A combination must also chain one tire on the last trailer’s last axle [8]. Federal rules tell commercial drivers to use extreme caution and slow down when snow or ice affects traction [15]. They must stop if conditions become dangerous enough [15]. Our guide to journey management for work drivers covers weather planning and check ins.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need chains if my car has all wheel drive?
It depends on the state and the sign. In Washington, an all wheel drive vehicle can skip required chains only with approved traction devices, such as traction tires, and chains on board [8]. Oregon adds weight, towing and traction conditions [10]. Under Colorado’s Passenger Vehicle Chain Law, every vehicle needs chains or an approved device [4]. All wheel drive does not help you stop.
Are fabric tire socks legal instead of chains?
Sometimes. Colorado’s approved list includes tire sock products [4]. Washington accepts alternative devices on its State Patrol’s approved list when chains are required [8]. Other states may differ. Check each state on your route and your owner’s manual before you rely on one.
Do chains go on all four tires?
At a minimum, they go on the drive tires. Washington requires the device the sign calls for on the drive tires [8]. For four wheel or all wheel drive, your owner’s manual tells you which axle to use and whether both are allowed. Heavy trucks and trailers have their own rules about which tires to chain [8].
How fast can I drive with chains on?
Treat the top speed in your device’s instructions as a hard limit, and obey any lower posted speed. Commercial drivers must also slow down under federal rules when snow or ice affects traction [15]. If a chain starts to slap or bang, pull well off the road and check it.
Can I use studded tires instead of chains?
In some places and conditions. Oregon counts studded tires as traction tires [13] and allows them from November 1 through March 31 [5]. Washington lists studded tires among approved traction devices [11] but bars metal studs from April 1 to November 1, with some exceptions [12]. A sign requiring chains may still apply to you, depending on the state and your vehicle.
The bottom line
Recommendation from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation urges drivers to buy traction devices that fit their exact tires, practice at home and check the chain law in every state on their route. A traction device helps only if it fits your tires, suits your vehicle and is legal where you drive. Start with your owner’s manual and exact tire size, then check the rules in every state on your route. Practice at home, chain up early in a safe spot, and drive slowly once the device is on. On some days, the safest choice is to wait until the road is clear.
Related articles
- Driving in snow and ice: grip, black ice, skids and when to stay home
- Roadside breakdown safety: what to do when your car breaks down
- Vehicle maintenance for safety: tires, brakes, lights and warning signs
- Journey management for work drivers: weather, breakdowns and check ins
- Rural road safety: why country roads are deadlier and how to drive them
Sources and further reading
- 1Federal Highway Administration, Road Weather Management. Snow & Ice. Last updated date not shown. Data year: annual averages (years not stated on page). ops.fhwa.dot.gov/…/snow_ice.htm
- 2Governor’s Transportation/Tourism Task Force (hosted by Oregon Department of Transportation). The Oregon Winter Driving Guide. Published May 2024. oregon.gov/…/Winter-Driving-Guide.pdf
- 3Washington State Legislature. WAC 204-24-015: Definitions. Effective November 13, 2014 (WSR 14-21-076). apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=204-24-015
- 4Colorado Department of Transportation. Passenger Vehicle Traction and Chain Laws. Updated January 22, 2026. codot.gov/travel/winter-driving/tractionlaw
- 5Oregon Department of Transportation, TripCheck. Oregon Chain Law. Accessed October 2026; update date not shown. tripcheck.com/Pages/Chain-Law
- 6Washington State Legislature. WAC 204-24-035: Standards for alternative traction devices. Effective September 21, 2012 (WSR 12-17-116). apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=204-24-035
- 7National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Tire Safety Ratings and Awareness (TireWise). Accessed October 2026; update date not shown. nhtsa.gov/equipment/tires
- 8Washington State Legislature. WAC 204-24-050: Use of tire chains or other traction devices. Effective December 5, 2020 (WSR 20-22-105). apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=204-24-050
- 9Washington State Department of Transportation. Tire chain installation. Updated August 4, 2023. wsdot.wa.gov/…/tire-chain-installation
- 10Oregon State Legislature. ORS Chapter 815: Vehicle Equipment Generally (ORS 815.140 and 815.145). 2025 edition. oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors815.html
- 11Washington State Legislature. WAC 204-24-040: Traction devices. Effective September 21, 2012. apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite=204-24-040
- 12Washington State Legislature. RCW 46.37.420: Tires—Restrictions. Accessed October 2026. apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=46.37.420
- 13Oregon Department of Transportation, TripCheck. Traction Tires. Accessed October 2026; update date not shown. tripcheck.com/Pages/Traction-Tires
- 14National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Winter Weather Driving Tips: Prepare Your Vehicle. Accessed October 2026; update date not shown. nhtsa.gov/winter-driving-tips
- 15Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. 49 CFR 392.14: Hazardous conditions; extreme caution. Up to date as of October 2, 2026. ecfr.gov/…/section-392.14
This article reflects the safety priorities of winter traction and safe travel on snowy and icy roads. It is general education, not legal, insurance or financial advice. Chain laws can change between winters, so verify current rules with official sources. For your vehicle, check the owner's manual and device instructions, and ask a tire shop or dealer about fit. For current chain rules, contact the transportation department or DMV in each state where you drive. Reviewed October 2026.
Cite this article: Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation. “Tire chains and traction devices: how to choose, install and follow chain laws.” drivewithcare.org, https://drivewithcare.org/tire-chains-traction-devices-fit-install-chain-laws/. Reviewed October 2026.
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