PERMANENT RULES
Effective Date of Rule: Thirty-one days after filing.
Purpose: To update current language of the chapter and include references to the federal standards.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 204-24-060 and chapter 204-22 WAC; and amending WAC 204-24-020, 204-24-030, 204-24-040, 204-24-050, and 204-24-070.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 46.37.005 and 46.37.420.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 08-19-077 on September 16, 2008.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 2, Amended 5, Repealed 6.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: November 7, 2008.
Chief John R. Batiste
Chief
OTS-1749.1
NEW SECTION
WAC 204-24-005
Promulgation.
By authority of RCW 46.37.005 and 46.37.420, the Washington state patrol adopts
the following standards for tire chains and traction tires.
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(2) "Cable laid rope" means a compound laid rope consisting of several ropes or several layers of strands laid together into one rope.
(3) "Cable tire chains" means any ladder-type cable tire chain assemblies designed for use on tires that have been manufactured in accordance with the standards of the Tire & Rim Association, Inc.; 3200 West Market Street; Akron, Ohio 44313.
(4) "Cross cable fastener" means any suitable fastener used to attach each cross cable to the side cable. The fastener must be constructed and assembled to prevent accidental detachment.
(5) "Cross cable traction reinforcement sleeves" means a device that is constructed of the manufacturer's specified material and of suitable length and width to maximize traction, braking, cornering and longevity.
(6) "Fastener" means any suitable connecting device, secured to one end of a side cable constructed so that it can connect to the opposing end and be easily closed (engaged or fastened) and be readily opened (released) by hand.
(7) "Link tire chains" means tire chains which consist of at least two chain loops, one on each side of the tire, connected by evenly spaced metal cross chains across the tire tread.
(8) "Reinforced cross cables" means stranded cable wrapped or covered to provide increased resistance to abrasive wear. This covering may be either a hard drawn spring wire, a high-carbon steel wire or nylon type 6 or 12. The wrapped or covered cable must be enclosed by traction reinforcement sleeves covering said cable essentially from side connector to side connector. Cross cable must be of specified length and provide proper drape over the tire tread.
(9) "Side cable" means stranded cable to complete one full circumference along the tire sidewall.
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(2) Cable tire chains must be designed for use on tires mounted in accordance with specifications in Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Recommended Practice J1232, Class S, and SAE Informational Report J683a. Oversized tires, snow tires, special service, or special traction tires, etc., may require chains of a larger size.
(a) Classifications. Cable tire chains described in this specification must be of the following types as specified for regular and restricted clearances:
(i) Passenger car;
(ii) Single light truck;
(iii) Heavy truck;
(iv) Special police and emergency vehicle.
(b) Requirements:
(i) Components. Cable tire chain assemblies must consist of two side cables, or two outer and one inner side cable, with reinforced cross cables, cross cable fastener, and fasteners necessary to form a complete assembly.
(ii) Material.
(A) Stranded side and stranded cross cable wire must be constructed of preformed galvanized high-carbon steel with a minimum of 450 pounds breaking strength with seven wires per strand and seven strands per cable. The lay must be a right hand lay.
(B) Wire covering stranded cable must be constructed of high-carbon plow steel wire with a minimum tensile strength of 230,000 pounds per square inch.
(C) Spring wire covering stranded cable must be constructed of harddrawn spring wire with a minimum tensile strength of 200,000 pounds per square inch.
(D) Cables, spring, and plow wire must be manufactured in conformance to SAE Recommended Practice J113.
(E) Cross cable fasteners must be constructed of open hearth, electric furnace, or basic oxygen process steel.
(F) Metallic cross cable traction reinforcement sleeves must be constructed of open hearth, electric furnace, or basic oxygen process steel and shall comply with the following American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) standards: Standard E6 - Bend Test, Standard E8 - Tension Test, Standard E18 - Test Methods for Rockwell Hardness, and Standard A568 - Table of Chemical Content of Steel.
(G) Nonmetallic cross cable traction reinforcement sleeves shall be constructed of "Zytel" ST-801 nylon or its equivalent.
(H) All side cable fasteners are to be constructed of material that will allow easy installation and removal.
(iii) Spacing of cross cable. The first cross cable must be attached to that point of each side cable nearest the fastener that will permit the fastener to lie in the proper plane when the assembled cable tire chain is applied to the tire. On single cable tire chains, the remainder of the cross cables must be attached to the side cable at intervals designed to provide for at least one cross cable in contact with the roadway at all times. On dual-triple tire chains, the remainder of the cross cable shall be attached to the outer side cables at like intervals and to the inner side chain with opposing cross cables staggered at the same intervals.
(iv) Tolerances.
(A) Cross cable length. The inside length of all cross cable, including fasteners held in the same plane, must be within a tolerance of minus 1/8 inch to plus 1/8 inch of the specified length indicated by the chain manufacturer's specifications. The length shall be measured by hanging the cross cable vertically on a horizontal pin and measuring the inside to inside length. The number of traction reinforcement sleeves in a cross cable may not vary from the number specified by the manufacturer.
(B) Side cable length. The length of all side cables must be within tolerance of minus 1/8 inch to plus 1/2 inch of the length indicated by the chain manufacturer's specifications.
(C) Stranded cable size. Stranded cable size must be subject to the following tolerances:
(I) Material up to and including .094 inch (2.4 mm) diameter shall not be less than the designated diameter and shall not exceed .010 inch (.25 mm) over the specified diameter.
(II) Material over .094 inch (2.4 mm) diameter shall not be less than the specified diameter and shall not exceed .014 inch (.36 mm) over the specified diameter.
(D) Component dimensions. The dimensions of manufactured components may vary, but the assembled cable chains must meet the tolerances specified in (b)(iv)(A), (B), and (C) of this subsection.
(E) Finish. All cable tire chains must have a rust-resistant finish for protection in transit and storage.
(F) Identification. Each half set of cable tire chains must be permanently marked with the manufacturing company's name, initials or trademark in order that it may be easily identified when not in the original container.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 46.37.420, 46.37.190, 46.37.194 and 46.37.280. 82-16-047 (Order 82-07-01), § 204-24-020, filed 7/29/82; Order 7607, § 204-24-020, filed 9/14/76; Order 6902, § 204-24-020, filed 12/19/73; Order 6902, § 204-24-020, filed 2/17/70.]
(1) Studs ((shall)) must be metal, tipped with tungsten
carbide.
(2) Metal studs ((shall)) must 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)) must 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)) must be a minimum of
seventy metal studs evenly spaced around the tread of the
tire.
(5) A tire ((shall)) must 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)) must 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.]
(1) Tire chains meeting the standards in ((chapter
204-22)) WAC 204-24-020.
(2) Studded tires meeting the standards in WAC 204-24-030.
(3) Approved traction tires. An approved traction tire
((shall)) must have the following tread characteristics:
(a) A minimum of 4/32 inch tread, measured in the center portion of the tire at three locations equally spaced around the circumference of the tire.
(b) A relatively aggressive tread pattern designed
primarily to provide additional starting, stopping, and
driving traction on snow or ice. The tread ((shall)) must
have ribs, lugs, blocks or buttons the edges of which are at
an angle greater than thirty degrees to the tire
circumferential centerline.
(c) On at least one side of the tread design, the shoulder lugs protrude at least 1/2-inch in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of travel.
(d) Tires manufactured to meet these specifications
((shall)) must:
(i) Be permanently labeled on at least one sidewall with the words "mud and snow" or any contraction using the letters "M" and "S" (e.g. MS, M/S, M-S, M & S, etc.).
(((4) Special tires specifically designed to improve
stopping, traction, and cornering abilities of the tire on ice
or snow may be approved by the state patrol as an approved
traction device.)) (ii) Be permanently labeled on at least one
side wall with the mountain/snowflake symbol.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 46.37.420. 92-05-016, § 204-24-040, filed 2/10/92, effective 3/12/92; 83-21-080 (Order 83-10-01), § 204-24-040, filed 10/19/83. Statutory Authority: RCW 46.37.005. 82-11-045 (Order 82-05-01), § 204-24-040, filed 5/12/82; Order 7607, § 204-24-040, filed 9/14/76; Order 6902, § 204-24-040, filed 2/17/70.]
When traffic control signs are posted by the department
of transportation it ((shall)) will be unlawful for any
vehicle to enter the controlled area without having mounted on
its drive tires the traction device specified by the sign,
which must also meet the requirements of WAC 204-24-040.
Exception for all wheel drive vehicles. When "chains
required" signs are posted, all-wheel drive vehicles ((shall))
will be exempt from the chain requirement when all wheels are
in gear and are equipped with approved traction devices as
specified in WAC 204-24-040 provided that tire chains for at
least one set of drive tires are carried in the vehicle.
(2) Vehicles or combinations of vehicles over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR).
When traffic control signs marked "chains required" are
posted by the department of transportation it ((shall)) will
be unlawful for any vehicle or combination of vehicles to
enter the controlled area without having mounted on its tires,
tire chains as follows: Provided, That highway maintenance
vehicles operated by the department of transportation for the
purpose of snow removal and its ancillary functions are exempt
from the following requirements if such vehicle has sanding
capability in front of the drive tires.
(a) Vehicles or vehicle combinations with two to four
axles including but not limited to trucks, truck-tractors,
buses and school buses: For vehicles with a single drive
axle, one tire on each side of the drive axle ((shall)) must
be chained. For vehicles with dual drive axles, one tire on
each side of one of the drive axles ((shall)) must be chained.
For vehicle combinations including trailers or semi-trailers;
one tire on the last axle of the last trailer or semi-trailer,
((shall)) must be chained. If the trailer or semi-trailer has
tandem rear axles, the chained tire may be on either of the
last two axles.
(b) Automobile transporters are any vehicle combination
designed and used specifically for the transport of assembled
(capable of being driven) highway vehicles. For vehicles with
single drive axles, one tire on each side of the drive axle
((shall)) must be chained. For vehicles with dual drive
axles, one tire on each side of each of the drive axles
((shall)) must be chained. For vehicle combinations including
trailers or semi-trailers, one tire on the last axle of the
last trailer or semi-trailer ((shall)) must be chained. If
the trailer or semi-trailer has tandem rear axles, the chained
tire may be on either of the last two axles.
(c) Vehicle combinations with five axles consisting of a truck tractor with dual drive axles and a tandem axled semi-trailer; all tires on one drive axle may be chained or one tire on each side of each of the drive axles may be chained. Chains must be applied to a minimum of four tires on the drive axles. On the tandem axle semi-trailer, the chained tire may be on either of the last two axles.
(d) Vehicle combinations with five axles, consisting of a
truck and trailer, or truck tractor and semi-trailer with a
single drive axle, or truck tractor, semi-trailer and full
trailer: For vehicles with a single drive axle, all tires on
the drive axle ((shall)) must be chained. For vehicles with
dual drive axles, all tires on one of the drive axles
((shall)) must be chained. For vehicle combinations including
trailers or semi-trailers, one tire on the last axle of the
last trailer or semi-trailer ((shall)) must be chained. If
the trailer or semi-trailer has tandem rear axles, the chained
tire may be on either of the last two axles.
(e) Vehicle combinations with six or more axles,
including but not limited to truck and trailer or truck
tractor and semi-trailer or truck tractor semi-trailer and
full trailer: For vehicles with a single drive axle, all
tires on the drive axle ((shall)) must be chained. For
vehicles with dual drive axles where traffic control signs
marked "approved traction tires required" are posted, all
tires on one of the drive axles ((shall)) must be chained. For vehicles with dual drive axles where traffic control signs
marked "chains required" are posted, all tires on one of the
drive axles ((shall)) must be chained. In addition, one tire
on each side of the additional drive axle ((shall)) must be
chained. For vehicle combinations including trailers or
semi-trailers, one tire on the last axle ((shall)) must be
chained. For vehicles with tandem axle trailers or
semi-trailers, the chained tire may be on either of the last
two axles.
(f) All vehicles over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight
rating (GVWR) ((shall)) must carry a minimum of two extra
chains for use in the event that road conditions require the
use of more chains or in the event that chains in use are
broken or otherwise made useless.
(g) Approved chains for vehicles over 10,000 pounds gross
vehicle weight rating (GVWR) ((shall)) must have at least two
side chains to which are attached sufficient cross chains of
hardened metal so that at least one cross chain is in contact
with the road surface at all times. Plastic chains ((shall))
will not be allowed. ((The state patrol may approve other
devices as chains if the devices are equivalent to regular
chains in performance.))
(h) On the following routes all vehicles and combinations
of vehicles over 10,000 gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR)
pounds ((shall)) must carry sufficient tire chains to meet the
requirements of this chapter from November 1 to April 1 of
each year or at other times when chains are required for such
vehicles:
(i) I-90 - between North Bend (MP 32) and Ellensburg (MP 101).
(ii) SR-97 - between (MP 145) and Junction SR-2.
(iii) SR-2 - between Dryden (MP 108) and Index (MP 36).
(iv) SR-12 - between Packwood (MP 135) and Naches (MP 187).
(v) SR-97 - between the Columbia River (MP 0.00) and Toppenish (MP 59.00).
(vi) SR-410 - from Enumclaw to Naches.
(vii) SR-20 - between Tonasket (MP 262) and Kettle Falls (MP 342); and SR-20 between Newhalem (MP 120) and Winthrop (MP 192).
(viii) SR-155 - between Omak (MP 79) and Nespelem (MP 45).
(ix) SR-970 - between (MP 0) and (MP 10).
(x) SR-14 - between Gibbons Creek (MP 18.00) and (MP 108.40) intersection of Cliffs Road.
(xi) SR-542 - Mt. Baker highway between (MP 22.91) and (MP 57.26).
(xii) I-82 - between Ellensburg Exit 3 (MP 3.00) and Selah Exit 26 (MP 26.00).
Vehicles making local deliveries as indicated on bills of lading and not crossing the mountain pass are exempt from this requirement if operating outside of a chain required area.
(3) The Washington state department of transportation or Washington state patrol may prohibit any vehicle from entering a chain/approved traction device control area when it is determined that the vehicle will experience difficulty in safely traveling the area.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 46.37.420, 46.12.330, 46.37.005. 02-19-055, § 204-24-050, filed 9/12/02, effective 10/13/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 46.37.005. 00-03-081, § 204-24-050, filed 1/19/00, effective 2/19/00; 99-06-023, § 204-24-050, filed 2/22/99, effective 3/25/99; 98-19-042, § 204-24-050, filed 9/11/98, effective 10/12/98; 95-07-137, § 204-24-050, filed 3/22/95, effective 4/22/95. Statutory Authority: RCW 46.37.420. 94-08-069, § 204-24-050, filed 4/4/94, effective 5/5/94; 92-05-016, § 204-24-050, filed 2/10/92, effective 3/12/92. Statutory Authority: RCW 46.37.005. 91-14-004 (Order 91-003), § 204-24-050, filed 6/21/91, effective 7/22/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 46.37.420. 83-21-080 (Order 83-10-01), § 204-24-050, filed 10/19/83. Statutory Authority: RCW 46.37.005. 82-11-045 (Order 82-05-01), § 204-24-050, filed 5/12/82. Statutory Authority: RCW 46.37.005 and 46.37.420. 81-10-038 (Order 81-04-01), § 204-24-050, filed 4/30/81; 78-02-091 (Order 7607A), § 204-24-050, filed 1/30/78; Order 7607, § 204-24-050, filed 9/14/76; Order 6902, § 204-24-050, filed 2/17/70.]
(a) Conformance to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, or, if none,
(b) Conformance to current standards and specifications of the Society of Automotive Engineers, or, if none,
(c) Certified for compliance by any recognized organization or agency such as, but not limited to, the American National Standards Institute, or the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators,
will be considered as an approved type chain, studded tire, or other traction device by the state patrol.
(2) Links to the Code of Federal Regulations are available on the Washington state patrol web site at www.wsp.wa.gov. Copies of the CFR may also be ordered through the United States Government Printing Office, 732 N. Capitol Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20401. Copies of the SAE standards are available for review at the Washington State Patrol, 210 11th Avenue, Olympia, WA 98504, and may also be ordered from the Society of Automotive Engineers International, 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 46.37.420. 92-05-016, § 204-24-070, filed 2/10/92, effective 3/12/92; 83-21-080 (Order 83-10-01), § 204-24-070, filed 10/19/83; 78-02-091 (Order 7607A), § 204-24-070, filed 1/30/78; Order 7607, § 204-24-070, filed 9/14/76.]
The following section of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:
| WAC 204-24-060 | Period of use. |
OTS-1747.1
REPEALER
The following chapter of the Washington Administrative Code is repealed:
| WAC 204-22-010 | Promulgation. |
| WAC 204-22-020 | Scope. |
| WAC 204-22-030 | Link tire chains. |
| WAC 204-22-040 | Cable tire chains. |
| WAC 204-22-050 | Other tire chain devices. |