NORTH SOUND, MARCH 28: No April fools’! It’s that time of year again – time to remove studded tires on your vehicle. This year’s deadline? Monday, March 31.
Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) says studded tires damage pavement, costing taxpayers additional road and maintenance costs. Removing studded tires as soon as possible helps preserve roadways.
Studded tires cause up to $29 million in damage to state-owned roads in Washington each winter and also damage city and county roads. Motorists are urged to explore all traction options, including legal year-round non-stud, winter-tread tires that are different from all-season tires and do not cause any damage to roadways.
Tire shops often get busy with long lines and wait times in the days leading up to the March 31 deadline. Many tire shop managers highly recommend scheduling an appointment in advance to reduce wait times.
Starting at midnight on Tuesday, April 1, motorists with studded tires can face a law enforcement-issued fine of $137. The Washington studded tire law applies to all motorists, including visitors—there is no out–of–state waiver to the legal studded tire dates of Nov. 1 through March 31.
No studded tire extension is planned for this year. Crews will continue to monitor mountain passes, roads and weather forecasts, and quickly clear any late season snow or ice. Be sure to check road conditions prior to hitting the road so you ‘know before you go’ by using WSDOT resources such as their website and app.
