Tires—Safe operating condition.
Seattle Mun. Code § 11.84.260
in effect11.84.260 - Tires—Safe operating condition.
A. No person shall drive or move or cause to be driven or moved upon a street or alley on tires which have contact with the driving surface of the road, any vehicle subject to registration in this state, unless such vehicle is equipped with tires in safe operating condition in accordance with requirements established by the State Commission on Equipment.
B. A tire shall be considered unsafe if it has:
1. Any ply or cord exposed either to the naked eye or when cuts or abrasions on the tire are probed; or
2. Any bump, bulge or knot, affecting the tire structure; or
3. Any break repaired with a boot; or
4. A tread depth of less than ( 2/32 ) of an inch measured in any two (2) major tread grooves at three (3) locations equally spaced around the circumference of the tire, or for those tires with tread wear indicators, a tire shall be considered unsafe if it is worn to the point that the tread wear indicators contact the road in any two (2) major tread grooves at three (3) locations equally spaced around the circumference of the tire; or
5. A legend which indicates the tire is not intended for use on public highway such as, "not for highway use," or "for racing purposes only"; or
6. Such conditions as may be reasonably demonstrated to render it unsafe; or
7. If not matched in tire size designations, construction, and profile to the other tire and/or tires on the same axle.
C. The condition or defect must be such that it can be detected by a visual inspection of tires mounted on vehicles, including visual comparison with simple measuring gauges. (RCW 46.37.425)
(Ord. 109475 § 1(part), 1980: Ord. 108200, § 2(11.84.260), 1979.)
Source: City of Seattle, Seattle Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=TIT11VETR_SUBTITLE_ITRCO_PT8EQRE_CH11.84BRMIEQ_11.84.260TIAFOPCOFetched: 11/1/2026