Are traction tires and chains the same thing?

No. Traction tires are winter-rated tires on the car. Chains go over the tire. Passes post them as different levels — a traction-tires rule can escalate to a chains rule as the storm gets worse, and a chains rule is not satisfied by winter tires alone unless the posted wording says so.

Do studded tires count as traction tires?

Generally yes during each state's studded-tire season — roughly the winter months — but every state sets its own dates and can change them. Check the official WSDOT, ODOT, or Idaho page for this year's dates before mounting or keeping studs.

511now / Answers / Chains or traction tires?

Chains or traction tires?

Q: What counts as a traction tire?

Each state defines it in its own law, so read your state's official winter-driving page. In general it means a tire built for winter — marked with the mountain-snowflake symbol or M+S — or an approved studded tire. An ordinary worn all-season tire may not qualify.

Updated August 19, 2026 · Pictures refresh every few minutes

They are different requirements, and the posted state rule decides which one you need. Traction tires are winter-rated tires on the car; chains go over the tire. Washington posts the level on WSDOT mountain passes, Oregon on TripCheck / Oregon 511, Idaho on Idaho 511.

What counts as a traction tire?

Each state defines it in its own law — read your state's official winter-driving page for the exact wording. In general it means a tire built for winter: marked with the mountain-snowflake symbol or M+S, with real tread left, or an approved studded tire. A worn all-season tire may not qualify, even on an AWD car.

How the posted levels escalate

Pass reports step up as a storm gets worse. The usual ladder: traction tires advised → traction tires required → chains required. The exact wording differs by state and changes day to day — and a chains rule is not satisfied by winter tires alone unless the posted wording says so. The per-state details are in Do I need chains?

See the passes right now

I-90 at Summit West on Snoqualmie Pass — Snoqualmie summit right now. All Snoqualmie cameras.

US-26 at Government Camp below Mount Hood — US-26 at Government Camp. All Hood cameras.

Official stills. The picture shows the road; the state page shows the rule.

Do studded tires count?

Generally yes during each state's studded-tire season — roughly the winter months — but every state sets its own dates, and they can change year to year. Washington, Oregon, and Idaho all publish the season on their official pages. Running studs outside the season can mean a ticket.

If I have traction tires, can I skip chains?

Only if the posted rule for that pass, that day, says so. Washington sometimes lets AWD and 4WD drive unchained while still requiring chains to be carried. Oregon can require chains on everyone, including AWD. The posted wording — not the tire, not the drivetrain — is the answer.

Why the picture is not the answer

The valley can look wet when the summit is ice. A clear photo does not cancel a posted requirement. Read the rule, then use the cameras to see what you are driving into.

Sources

WSDOT mountain passes — Washington rules and definitions.
Oregon 511 / TripCheck — Oregon rules and definitions.
Idaho 511 — Idaho rules.