2006 New Mexico Statutes - 66-3-847 — Restrictions as to tire equipment.

66-3-847. Restrictions as to tire equipment.

A.     When the use thereof is permitted, every solid rubber tire on a vehicle shall have rubber on its entire traction surface at least one-inch thick above the edge of the flange of the entire periphery.   

B.     A person shall not operate or move on a highway a motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer having any metal tire in contact with the roadway except that for the purposes of the Motor Vehicle Code [ 66-1-1 NMSA 1978], a snow tire with metal studs designed to increase traction on ice or snow shall not be considered a metal tire.   

C.     No tire on a vehicle moved on a highway shall have on its periphery any block, flange, cleat or spike or any other protuberance of any material other than rubber that projects beyond the tread of the traction surface of the tire except that it shall be permissible to use farm machinery with tires having protuberances that will not injure the highway and except also that it shall be permissible to use tire chains of reasonable proportions or snow tires with metal studs designed to increase traction on ice or snow upon any vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice or other conditions tending to cause a vehicle to skid.   

D.     The state transportation commission and local authorities, in their respective jurisdictions, may, in their discretion, issue special permits authorizing the operation upon a highway of traction engines or tractors having movable tracks with transverse corrugations upon the periphery of the movable tracks or farm tractors or other farm machinery, the operation of which upon a highway would otherwise be prohibited under the Motor Vehicle Code [ 66-1-1 NMSA 1978].   

E.     A vehicle equipped with solid rubber or cushion tires shall not be permitted upon any highway of this state without special permission first being granted by the state transportation commission or the local authority having jurisdiction over the highway affected, and in no event may any such vehicle be operated at a speed in excess of that specified by law.