Winter tire dates for New York
Computed from the 30-year climate record at Laguardia Ap 72503, the official NOAA station 13 km from New York, New York.
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The climate record behind these dates
Mean daily temperature by month at Laguardia Ap 72503, 30-year normals. The tire windows fall where this line crosses 45F.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | 36 | 43 | 54 | 64 | 73 | 79 | 78 | 71 | 60 | 49 | 40 |
Values below 45F shown in blue: winter tire season at New York.
Winter tires and the law
No state or federal mandate
The United States has no winter-tire law: the dates above are a climate recommendation, not a legal requirement. A few mountain states enforce seasonal traction or chain requirements on specific highways and passes during winter storms. Those are road- and condition-specific, so check your state department of transportation before mountain travel in winter.
New York winter tire questions
When should winter tires go on in New York?
Around November 30. That is when the mean daily temperature at Laguardia Ap 72503, the official station nearest New York, historically settles below 45F, the threshold where winter compounds outgrip all-seasons even on dry pavement. Book the swap a week or two ahead; shops fill up after the first cold snap.
When do winter tires come off in New York?
After March 19, when mean daily temperatures climb back above 45F to stay. Taking them off earlier risks a late cold snap; much later wears the soft compound on warm pavement.
Are winter tires required by law near New York?
There is no federal winter-tire law in the United States, and most states do not mandate them. A handful of mountain states enforce seasonal traction or chain requirements on specific highways and passes during winter storms. Those are road- and condition-specific, not a blanket rule for your city, so check your state department of transportation before mountain travel.
How are these dates calculated?
From NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 30-year climate normals at Laguardia Ap 72503 (13 km from New York): monthly mean daily temperatures anchored mid-month, linearly interpolated across the 45F threshold. They are planning averages from the official record, not forecasts. Full method on the methodology page.
How this page was made
The dates above are computed, not written: monthly mean daily temperatures from the NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals at Laguardia Ap 72503, interpolated across the 45F tire-compound threshold. Full method: data and methodology. These are planning averages from the official record, not forecasts: microclimates, valleys, and lakeshores can run a week off the station record. Watch the forecast in the shoulder weeks before acting.
More for New York: frost and planting dates. Different place? The full planner covers all 2697 stations.