California Code of Regulations › Title 13 - Motor Vehicles › Division 2 - Department of the California Highway Patrol › Chapter 4 - Special Equipment › Article 13 - Tire Traction Devices › Section 1071 - Definitions

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) Alternative
				  Traction Device (ATD) is a tire traction device which differs from tire chains
				  in construction, design, or material. The ATD is capable of providing traction
				  equal to or exceeding the performance of tire chains or tire cables under
				  similar conditions. Examples of ATDs include, but are not limited to: automatic
				  tire chains, textile traction devices, and wheel-hub attached chains, provided
				  they meet or exceed the regulatory standards for tire chains or tire cables as
				  provided by this article.
(b)
				  Automatic tire chain is a device, not directly mounted on a tire, which a
				  driver may manually activate using a switch from inside the vehicle to
				  automatically position a strand of chain between the tire and roadway. These
				  devices may also be referred to as "on-demand" chains.
(c) Official traffic control device shall
				  have the same meaning as Vehicle Code Section
				  440.
(d) Snow-tread tires, commonly referred to as
				  mud and snow tires, are pneumatic tires which have a relatively deep and
				  aggressive tread pattern compared with conventional passenger tread pattern.
				  Snow-tread tires may be identified using the following manufacturer markings
				  appearing on the tire sidewall as follows: "MS," "M-S," "M/S," "M+S," any
				  contraction using the letters "M" and "S," the words "MUD AND SNOW," or a
				  "Mountain/Snowflake" (Figure 1) symbol.
Click
					 here to view image
Figure 1. Mountain/Snowflake Symbol
(e) Studded tires are pneumatic tires
				  containing metal-type studs of tungsten carbide or other suitable material
				  which are embedded into the surface of the tire to improve traction on snowy or
				  icy roads. Studded tires shall comply with Vehicle Code Section
				  27454.
(f) Textile traction devices are constructed
				  of a fabric weave covering which is installed over the tire and provides
				  additional traction material to the tread area of the tire.
(g) Tire cables are steel cables which have
				  high strength steel cross member rollers which are evenly spaced to cover the
				  surface area of the tire. These devices may also be referred to as "cable
				  chains."
(h) Tire chains are metal
				  chains constructed of two circular metal chain loops, one on each side of the
				  tire, connected by metal chains across the tire, which are evenly spaced except
				  in the area where the chain loops are fastened and adjusted. These devices may
				  also be referred to as "traditional," "link-type," "ladder-type," or welded
				  metal chains.
(i) Tire Traction
				  Devices are ATDs, automatic tire chains, textile traction devices, tire cables,
				  tire chains, and wheel-hub attached chains. Snow-tread tires and studded tires
				  are not tire traction devices as defined in Vehicle Code Section
				  605.
(j) Wheel-hub attached chains are constructed
				  so that the device is secured to the outer wheel-rim of a vehicle using plastic
				  or metal components which positions the chain between the tire and the
				  roadway.
1. New
					 section filed 3-25-2019; operative 7-1-2019 (Register 2019, No.
					 13).
Note: Authority cited: Sections
						26103,
						34501.5 and
						34508,
						Vehicle Code. Reference: Sections
						440,
						485,
						558,
						605,
						610,
						21461,
						26103,
						26104,
						27454,
						27459,
						27460,
						27465,
						34501.5 and
						34508,
						Vehicle Code.