Colorado has updated its traction laws to clarify exactly which vehicles need to chain up when road conditions get messy.
Unless you are driving an all-wheel or four-wheel drive vehicle with the right kind of rubber (like winter, all-weather, or mud-and-snow tires), you are required to carry chains or a similar approved device—such as EasySox—whenever these restrictions are active.
On top of that, your tires need to have at least 3/16 of an inch of tread left to be considered legal.
If you ignore these rules, you could get hit with a $67 fine. These regulations apply every year from September 1st until May 31st on the I-70 mountain corridor between Dotsero and Morrison, which is the main highway connecting Denver to big ski areas like Keystone and Arapahoe Basin.
According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, this rule doesn’t ban two-wheel-drive cars from mountain roads. It simply requires those drivers to handle chain rules the same way professional truckers do.
Check your tyre chains — unless you like being fined
Andrew Hogle, a spokesperson for the department, told a local news station that just as truck drivers must stop and install chains when the weather turns, anyone driving a front-wheel or two-wheel drive vehicle will now have to do the same.
These regulations cover the highway between Dotsero and Morrison, but state agencies can enforce them on other roads if a storm rolls in.
Even though the traction rules are active all winter long, the mandate to actually install chains only kicks in when the State Patrol or transportation officials decide conditions are severe. This means you don’t need to drive with chains on your tires 24/7, but you absolutely need to be ready to use them.
Hogle also noted that while the State Patrol likely won’t set up roadblocks just to check for equipment, troopers will check for chains if they pull you over for another reason.
Beware if you are not properly equipped
At the very least, if you drive a front-wheel or two-wheel drive vehicle, you are required to have traction gear available for two of your tires. If you don’t follow this rule, you face a $50 ticket plus extra fees, but if you end up blocking the road because you weren’t ready, the fine jumps up to $500.
It is important to remember that all-wheel and four-wheel drive vehicles are not off the hook, either.
These cars need to be equipped with winter, all-weather, or mud-and-snow tires that have at least 3/16 of an inch of tread left. Drivers who don’t meet these requirements can get fined just like everyone else. The Department of Transportation suggests looking at their new online guides, which explain how to put chains on, what supplies to bring, and how to drive safely on I-70.
That highway is famous for its steep climbs, heavy congestion, and weather that can turn nasty without warning. Weather conditions in Colorado can shift drastically in less than an hour, so make sure to be well-equipped even if the sun seems to be shining.Being ready for anything is crucial, and now it is actually a legal requirement for everyone on that road.
FAQs
Do I need to buy chains in Colorado?
If you want to drive in Colorado—and your car is two-wheel drive—you are required to have chains or an “EasyBox” in your vehicle during the snowing season (meaning September to May).
My car is 4-wheel drive. Do I need chains too?
Not really, but your tires must be in good shape: they need deep tread (at least 3/16 of an inch) and must be rated for mud, snow, or all-weather. Any worn out tires will get a ticket.
How much is the ticket?
If you are stopped and are found to be lacking in equipments—snow chains or adequate tires—the fine will be $50 plus fees ($67 total). If you do get stuck in the snow or block traffic because you weren’t prepared, the fine will jump up to $500!