With the arrival of spring comes the annual removal of studded tires, to be completed by Thursday, March 31.
“Drivers are encouraged to not wait until the March 31 deadline to remove their studded tires, especially if they aren’t driving in the mountain passes between now and then” State Maintenance and Operations engineer Luci Moore said.
While studded tires are allowed in Oregon from Nov. 1 through March 31, other alternatives cause less damage to roads, including other types of traction tires and newer chains.
A 2014 study concluded that studded tires cause about $8.5 million in damage each year to state highways.
Drivers with studded tires on their vehicles after the deadline can be charged by law enforcement with a Class C traffic violation.
ODOT maintenance crews continue to monitor highways and weather forecasts and remove any late-season snow or ice as soon as possible.
Travelers are advised to plan for the weather, using other types of traction tires or chains if needed after March 31.