Section 1636 – Tires which are prohibited — Regulatory powers of state transportation department — Winter use of studs — Special permits — Tread depth.

Effective 5/12/2015
41-6a-1636. Tires which are prohibited — Regulatory powers of state transportation department — Winter use of studs — Special permits — Tread depth.

• (1) A solid rubber tire on a vehicle shall have rubber on its entire traction surface at least one inch thick above the edge of the flange of the entire periphery.

• (2) A person may not operate or move on a highway a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer having a metal tire in contact with the roadway.

• (3) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person may not have a tire on a vehicle that is moved on a highway that has on the tire’s periphery a block, stud, flange, cleat, or spike or any other protuberances of any material other than rubber which projects beyond the tread of the traction surface of the tire.

• (4) In accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, the Department of Transportation may make rules to permit the use of tires on a vehicle having protuberances other than rubber, if the department concludes that protuberances do not:
  • (a) damage the highway significantly; or
  • (b) constitute a hazard to life, health, or property.

• (5) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a person may use:
  • (a) a tire with protuberances consisting of tungsten carbide studs on a vehicle if the studs:
    • (i) are only used during the winter periods of October 15 through December 31 and January 1 through March 31 of each year;
    • (ii) do not project beyond the tread of the traction surface of the tire more than .050 inches; and
    • (iii) are not used on a vehicle with a maximum gross weight in excess of 9,000 pounds unless the vehicle is an emergency vehicle or school bus;
  • (b) farm machinery with tires having protuberances which will not injure the highway; and
  • (c) tire chains of reasonable proportions on a vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice, or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to skid.

• (6) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a highway authority, for a highway under its jurisdiction, may issue special permits authorizing the operation on a highway of:
  • (a) farm tractors;
  • (b) other farm machinery; or
  • (c) traction engines or tractors having movable tracks with transverse corrugations on the periphery of the movable tracks.

• (7)
  • (a) A person may not operate a vehicle if one or more of the tires in use on the vehicle:
    • (i) is in an unsafe operating condition; or
    • (ii) has a tread depth less than 2/32 inch measured in any two adjacent tread grooves at three equally spaced intervals around the circumference of the tire.
  • (b) The measurement under Subsection (7)(a) may not be made at the location of any tread wear indicator, tie bar, hump, or fillet.

• (8) A person in the business of selling tires may not sell or offer for sale for highway use any tire prohibited for use under Subsection (7).

• (9) A violation of this section is an infraction.

Amended by Chapter 412, 2015 General Session