UDOT Cottonwood Canyons Sticker Program

4WD/AWD Vehicles: 3PMSF or M+S tires with a tread depth of 5/32 minimum

2WD/FWD Vehicles: 3PMSF tires on all wheels with a tread depth of 5/32 minimum or proof of chains (chains must be in vehicle at time of inspection)

* According to Utah Code 41-6a-1636, a person may not operate a vehicle if one or more of the tires in use on the vehicle has a tread depth less than 2/32 inch measured in any two adjacent tread grooves at three equally spaced intervals around the circumference of the tire.

* Due to the challenging winter driving conditions often present in the Cottonwood Canyons, the sticker program requirement is a tire tread depth minimum of 5/32.

• Participants will arrive at the tire shop inspection location that they signed up for and ask to have their vehicle’s tires inspected as part of the UDOT sticker program.
• Tire shop employees will inspect tires and distribute stickers only to those that meet the requirements of the program.
• Participants are not obligated to buy tires at the inspection locations, the tire shop is simply verifying that the tires meet the requirements of the sticker program and distributing stickers. Participants may purchase tires from any vendor they choose and then visit/return to a participating sticker inspection location for inspection.
• If a vehicle is not properly equipped for winter driving and fails to meet the requirements of the sticker program, the driver can choose to purchase compliant tires/traction devices from a vendor of their choice or opt out of the program.

This is a completely free and voluntary program for participants, where UDOT will purchase the stickers and authorize local tire shops to distribute stickers to qualifying participants.

• Participating businesses are not to charge sticker program participants for the inspection of the tires as part of the sticker program.
• Tire shop employees will inspect tires and distribute stickers to those that meet the requirements of the program.
• If a vehicle is not properly equipped for winter driving and fails to meet the requirements of the sticker program, the driver can choose to purchase compliant tires/traction devices at the business of their choice or opt out of the program.
• Participating businesses are not to collect sticker program participant information for marketing purposes if the participant is only there for the sticker program and does not expressly give consent.

For the past two years of the sticker program, UDOT partnered with Enterprise Holdings (Enterprise, National, Alamo) to increase the amount of out-of-state visitors traveling in vehicles that are properly equipped for the winter driving conditions in the canyons. Last year, over 1,400 stickers were distributed to vehicles in the fleet that met the requirements.

Rental car company participation helps out of state visitors identify vehicles that are in compliance with Utah traction device requirements.

For this season, UDOT further expanded the program to provide more options for out of state visitors to choose rental vehicles that are approved for travel in areas that require traction devices when conditions warrant. The following rental car companies are participating in the sticker program:

Rugged Rental
Go-Rentals
Budget Car and Truck Rental
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
National
Alamo

• Receiving a sticker indicates that a vehicle’s tires have been pre-inspected for winter driving conditions.
• The sticker program educates drivers on the proper traction devices required for winter driving conditions, and the importance of those traction devices.
• The sticker program encourages drivers to take responsibility for preparing their vehicles for winter driving conditions prior to traveling to the canyons.
• Participating in the program and encouraging others throughout your community networks to do the same is a small but significant way to positively impact winter roadway safety in the canyons.

UDOT provides education on the traction law and how to drive in winter weather conditions but does not have a verification process for operator abilities when the traction law is in effect.

• All visitors should be confident in their mountain driving abilities during severe winter weather when traveling in the Cottonwood Canyons.
• A sticker is not a verification of operator skills driving in winter weather conditions.

Having a sticker does not guarantee access to the canyons, rather it verifies the vehicle’s tires meet the required equipment standards when the traction law is in effect.

• Vehicles may still be subject to inspection at the discretion of law enforcement.
• Having a sticker is not a requirement for vehicle travel in the canyons and does not allow holders to enter the canyon during closures.
• The sticker does not allow vehicles with the sticker to have priority to enter the canyons.