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Kentucky · Snapshot 09/05/2026

KRS 189.190: Chains and lugs on wheels -- Thickness of solid rubber tires.

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  1. KRS Chapter 189

(1) No person shall use on a highway not covered with ice, a vehicle with a chained

wheel, unless the wheel rests upon an ice shoe at least six (6) inches wide.

(2) Where chains are used on rubber -tired vehicles, the cross chains shall be not more

than three-fourths (3/4) of an inch in thickness or diameter, and shall be spaced not

more than ten (10) inches apart, around the circumference of the tires.

(3) Any machinery, utensils or implements used solely for agricultural, farming or

manufacturing purposes may be operated on the highways under present equipment

except as is provided in subsection (4).

(4) No tractor, traction engine, hauling engine or other similar power vehicle having

any projections on the face of the tires or rims of the wheels in contact wit h the

pavement shall be operated on any highway, the top surface of which is either

composed of or treated with bituminous materials or concrete except that the

driving wheels may be fitted with flat lugs extending diagonally across the entire

width of the tire or rim. Those lugs shall be not less than one (1) inch in width at the

bearing surface in contact with the pavement, but those lugs shall be so spaced that

not less than two (2) lugs on each driving wheel shall be in contact with the

highway surface at all times. The front or nondriving wheels may be fitted with flat

steering rings, if those rings are at least two (2) inches in width and not more than

one and one-half (1-1/2) inches in height, but there shall be no bolt head, rivet heads

or other proj ections beyond the face of the tire or rim. The narrow angle iron lugs

used for plowing or on soft ground shall not be permitted, nor shall any tractor or

other vehicles of the caterpillar or track laying type having such projections on the

faces of the sh oes or treads of the track in contact with the roadway be permitted

unless fitted with the flat lugs, in a way that will prevent any injury to the highway

by either the narrow angle lugs or the projections on any tractor or other vehicle

named in this section.

(5) No solid rubber or rubber compounded tire on any vehicle, other than a vehicle

being actually used in the construction or maintenance of a highway, shall be less

than one (1) inch thick, measured from the steel flange of the rim. Any person

violating this subsection shall be civilly liable for any damage done to any state or

county highway. The county attorney of the county in which the damage is done

shall institute actions necessary to reimburse the state or county for the damage

suffered.

Collected 2026-09-05T20:51:42Z. Source file · JSON

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