Free shipping · CO
Tires Shipped Free to Colorado
Tires ship free to any street address in Colorado, from the Eastern Plains to the Western Slope. If you drive the mountains, your tires are a legal matter as much as a choice: from September 1 through May 31 the Traction Law applies on the I-70 mountain corridor, and it asks for more tread than most states' minimums.
State rules
Colorado tire rules, with sources
A plain-English summary with a source for each line, not legal advice. Laws change: check CDOT for current rules.
Traction and chain laws
The Traction Law is in effect Sept 1–May 31 on the I-70 Mountain Corridor between Dotsero and Morrison. 4WD/AWD vehicles need tires with at least 3/16-inch tread that are winter (mountain-snowflake), all-weather or M+S tires. Vehicles that don't meet these standards need chains or an approved alternative traction device on two or more drive tires.
Source:CDOT, New Traction Law requirements (Nov 2025)(opens in a new tab)
Inspection
Colorado's periodic vehicle test is an emissions inspection, not a tire check.
Source:CDPHE, Emissions Inspection Requirements(opens in a new tab)
State tire fee
Beginning January 1, 2026, Colorado's Waste Tire Management Enterprise collects $1.50 on each new tire sold in the state.
Source:CDPHE, Waste Tire Management Enterprise(opens in a new tab)
Sources checked October 2026.
Climate and tire choice
Which tire type for Colorado
Where you drive decides it
In Colorado the question is less where you live than where you drive. If your winter includes I-70 west of Morrison or any mountain pass, a 4WD or AWD vehicle needs winter, all-weather or M+S tires with at least 3/16 inch of tread, and a vehicle that doesn't meet that needs chains or an approved alternative traction device when the law is on. A winter tire with the mountain snowflake symbol is the strongest choice for mountain commuters; an all-weather tire suits Front Range drivers who head up on weekends.
On the eastern plains, where most precipitation comes in spring and summer, an all-season tire covers most driving. Whatever you buy for the mountains, watch the tread: a tire that starts the season just above 3/16 inch may not finish it there.
Wolf Creek Pass averages nearly 400 inches of snow a year and sometimes tops 600, while Manassa in the San Luis Valley gets barely 40.
On the eastern plains and in the valleys most precipitation falls in spring and summer; the high peaks get most of theirs in winter.
Source:NOAA State Climate Summaries 2022(opens in a new tab)
Shipping
How shipping to Colorado works
Order online
Pick tires by vehicle or by size. Shipping is free to any street address in the 48 contiguous states and DC, with no order minimum.
Ships from a distributor
Your order ships from a distributor warehouse that stocks your size, so a set can come in more than one parcel.
Tracking by email
Once the carrier has a tracking number, we email it to you. You can also look the order up on Track Order.
Colorado orders ship free to any street address in the state, mountain towns included. Taxes and fees, including Colorado's $1.50 tire fee where it applies, are calculated at checkout. How shipping works
Mounting
Getting them mounted in Colorado
Ask the shop to measure the tread on the new tires and note it on the invoice, since 3/16 inch is the number that counts under the Traction Law. If you switch between winter and summer sets, a second set of wheels makes the twice-a-year change quicker.
Any tire shop that mounts customer tires can do this; we don't recommend particular shops.
What to ask a shop
- Do you mount and balance tires a customer brings in?
- What do you charge per tire to mount, balance, replace valve stems or service TPMS sensors, and to take the old tires?
- Can you reset the tire-pressure warning light after the swap?
Bring the tires and your TireDrop order confirmation, so the shop can match the size, load index and speed rating on each sidewall to your order before anything is mounted. A mounted tire can't be returned.
Questions
Asked about Colorado
What tread depth does the Colorado Traction Law require?
At least 3/16 inch, on winter, all-weather or M+S tires, for a 4WD or AWD vehicle to comply on tires alone. Without that, you need chains or an approved alternative traction device on two or more drive tires.
Does my front-wheel-drive car need chains on I-70?
When the Traction Law is on, a vehicle that isn't 4WD or AWD with qualifying tires needs chains or an approved alternative traction device on two or more drive tires. It runs September 1 through May 31 between Dotsero and Morrison.
Do M+S all-season tires count under the Traction Law?
On a 4WD or AWD vehicle, yes, if they have at least 3/16 inch of tread. Check the sidewall for M+S or the mountain snowflake symbol before you count on them.
What is the $1.50 on Colorado tire orders?
Colorado's waste tire fee, collected from January 1, 2026 by the state's Waste Tire Management Enterprise on each new tire sold. Taxes and fees are calculated at checkout.