WAC 204-24-030   Standards for studded tires.  Studded tires shall meet the following specifications:

     (1) Studs shall be metal, tipped with tungsten carbide.

     (2) Metal studs shall be inserted only in a new tire or a newly-recapped tire which has molded in the tread the "pin-holes" into which metal studs are to be inserted. Studs shall not be inserted in any new tire or newly-recapped tire after it has been driven on a vehicle.

     (3) Metal studs may be installed only by the tire manufacturer, or by a tire dealer or tire jobber who shall install the metal studs in conformance with the manufacturer's specifications.

     (4) When a tire is sold or offered for sale as a studded tire or when studs are installed in a new tire or a newly-recapped tire, there shall be a minimum of seventy metal studs evenly spaced around the tread of the tire.

     (5) A tire shall contain a minimum of fifty-six metal studs at all times in order to qualify as a "studded tire" or as an approved traction device.

     (6) Metal studs shall not be installed in any tire of a vehicle which has a gross vehicle weight of ten thousand pounds or over.

     (7) School buses and fire department equipment tires are exempt from subsection (6) of this section.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 46.37.420, 46.12.330, 46.37.005. 02-19-055, § 204-24-030, filed 9/12/02, effective 10/13/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 46.12.330. 00-15-009, § 204-24-030, filed 7/10/00, effective 8/10/00. Statutory Authority: RCW 46.37.420. 92-05-016, § 204-24-030, filed 2/10/92, effective 3/12/92; 83-21-080 (Order 83-10-01), § 204-24-030, filed 10/19/83; Order 7607, § 204-24-030, filed 9/14/76; Order 6902, § 204-24-030, filed 2/17/70.]