10/13/2010
Reed Hollinshead
ITD Communication
208-334-8881
reed.hollinshead@itd.idaho.gov
REMINDER: Studded snow tires legal in Idaho until April 30
BOISE - Idaho's run of good weather has slowed the start of winter-driving challenges, but snow and ice will come. The Idaho Transportation Department reminds motorists that they can use studded tires to improve vehicle handling.
The use of
studded tires is legal from Oct. 1 through April 30.
While it is legal to use the tires, the transportation department advises
against it unless extreme conditions warrant. Studded tires are snow tires with
small metal cleats embedded in the tread. Driving on studded tires may cause
undue wear on bare roadways. All-season tires with good tread or "studless"
tires are good alternatives for most winter driving conditions.
Studded tire laws vary in neighboring states. Authorized start and stop dates
are:
* Montana: Oct. 1 - May 31
* Nevada: Oct. 1 - April 30
* Utah: Oct. 15 - March 31
* Oregon: Nov. 1 - March 31
* Washington: Nov. 1 - March 31
* Wyoming: Legal all year
For the latest highway and weather conditions call the Idaho Traveler
Information Service at 5-1-1. For online updates, visit the Idaho Traveler
Information Service Web site at 511.idaho.gov. Telephone and Web reports are
available 24 hours a day and are updated as conditions change.
The Web also includes more than 70 Web cameras located across the state. Idaho
511 shares 576 phone lines with multiple states, minimizing the chance that
callers might get a busy signal during winter storms. Information about winter
driving conditions in states adjacent to Idaho also is available.
Idaho's voice-response 511 telephone system enables callers to check highway
conditions in specific regions without pressing numbers on a key pad. Drivers
are encouraged to make calls from their vehicles only when safe to do so. They
should pull off the road to make cell calls or have another vehicle occupant
place the call.