DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION  
BUREAU OF HIGHWAY TECHNICAL SERVICES  
TRACTION DEVICES  
(By authority conferred upon the department by section 710 of Act No. 300 of the  
Public Acts of 1949, as amended, being S257.710 of the Michigan Compiled  
Laws)  
R 247.171 Definitions.  
Rule 1. (1) "Reference standard studded tire" means size E 78-14, 4-ply, bias  
construction tubeless snow tire containing 90 studs (kennametal class III (16-3-585))  
fixed in 6 rows around the tire with 15 studs in each row. This reference tire was chosen  
because it was that used in the wear tests reported in laboratory evaluation of pavement  
damage caused by studded tires, salt, and abrasive sand, final report, American  
oil company, project 6128, May 1971.  
(2) "Bias construction tire" means a pneumatic tire in which the ply cords  
extending to the beads are laid at alternate angles substantially less than 90 degrees to  
the centerline of the tread.  
(3) "Northern Lower Peninsula" means all counties whose southern  
boundaries are as far or farther north than the southern boundary of Missaukee  
county.  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 247.172 Applicability.  
Rule 2. (1) These rules apply to all public streets and highways in this state.  
(2) These rules do not prevent the application of any other statute or local  
ordinance which is more restrictive than these rules. Traction devices shall not be  
used pursuant to these rules unless there is compliance with other laws and  
ordinances.  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 247.173 Restrictions on use.  
Rule 3. After March 31, 1975, a vehicle or special mobile equipment shall not  
be operated on the public streets or highways of this state on metal or plastic track or  
on tires which are equipped with metal that comes in contact with the surface of the  
road or which have a partial contact of metal or plastic with the surface of the  
road, except as provided in section 710 of Act No. 300 of the Public Acts of 1949, as  
amended, being S257.710 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, or unless the device  
meets the requirements set forth in these rules.  
Page 1  
Courtesy of www.michigan.gov/orr  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 247.174 Use of traction devices.  
Rule 4. Studs or other traction devices shall not be used unless they wear either  
concrete or asphalt pavements, typical of those in this state, at a rate not to exceed 25% of  
the reference standard studded tire.  
History: 1979 AC.  
R 247.175 Seasonal restrictions.  
Rule 5. Traction devices permitted under these rules may be used only between  
November 15 and April 1 of the succeeding year except in the Upper Peninsula and the  
northern Lower Peninsula, where, because of extreme winter snow and ice  
conditions, they may be used between October 1 and May 1 of the succeeding year.  
History: 1979 AC.  
Page 2  
Courtesy of www.michigan.gov/orr  
;