Do Denver car rentals come with winter tires?

[PigsDad]

Here's the skivvy on CO's Code 16. No exception that I can find for I-70 and confirmed by jlp879.

Passenger Vehicle Chain Law (Code 16)
During severe winter storms, CDOT will implement a Passenger Vehicle Chain Law (also known as a Code 16). This is the final safety measure before the highway is closed.
When the Passenger Vehicle Chain Law is in effect, every vehicle on the roadway must have chains or an alternative traction device (like AutoSock).
Fines

• Motorists driving with inadequate equipment when a Passenger Vehicle Traction Law or Chain Law is in effect could be fined more than $130.
• If a motorist blocks the roadway because he/she has inadequate equipment when a Passenger Vehicle Traction Law or Chain Law is in effect, he/she could be fined more than $650.

I'm not denying the law exists -- what I said is that chains have never been required for passenger vehicles for I-70 from Denver to Breckenridge (the original poster's trip that they were asking about). I believe that statement is still true, so a person driving I-70 with proper tires does not have to worry about having chains. If you have experience where that stretch of 1-70 has required chains, I would be interested in when that happened. My experience is that they will close I-70 if it ever gets that bad, before they would need to enacted the chain law.

Kurt

 

[huenix]

Under Traction Law, “motorists must have either snow tires, tires with the mud/snow (M+S) designation, or a four-wheel/all-wheel drive vehicle. All tires must have a minimum one-eighth inch tread.” ... They must have a mud and snow rating, which is normally designated on the sidewall of the tire with "M+S" or "M&S."

The reason 4x4's are so expensive here is demand. So there are three choices:

1) Rent a 4x4.
2) Rent a car with designated snow tires or stamped M&S
3) Ride the van.

As a frequent traveller on the I70 corridor, I see all sorts of really bad decision making. Last time up we passed a 90's model ford taurus going up through Georgetown with literally bald tires. It was snowing.