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Updated:August 30, 2013

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Nagano Prefecture's Road Traffic Act

According to the regulations of the Road Traffic Act,Article 71,No.6.

Article 14(for drivers)

No.2.
Drivers must affix chains to tires, or use studless tires on snowy or icy roads.
Put chains on the rear tires. All four tires should be studless tires.

No.3.
Do not drive with snow on the roof or bonnet of the car. Do not carry heavy loads on top of the car. Drive a car using your common sense.

About tires

  • Put chains on all wheels which are moved by engine.
  • Non-slip winter tires means studless tires and snow tires.
  • The condition of the road and the efficiency of the tires.
Condition of the road Tires Snowy Frozen Not Snowor frozen
Studless tires

Very good

Good

Very good

Snow tires

Very good

Okay

Very good

chained tires

Very good

Good

Bad

All-weather tires

Okay

Okay

Good

Tires for summer

Bad

Bad

Good

  • Studless tires grip the road to prevent slipping.
  • Even studless tires slip if you brake rapidly.
  • When the tires slip or lock, you can not control the steering wheel.
  • Radial tires slip less than studless tires on a snowy road.
  • Studless tires can be used until 50% of the tread remains.

Important points

  • Step on the brake little by little.
  • If you have the studless tires, all 4 tires have to be studless tires.
  • Having only 2 studless tires is not only breaking the law, but also dangerous.
  • Studless tires should be used for the same direction, so when you take off the tires,mark them so that they can be put on again in the same way.
  • Even though you have studless tires,when you drive on a very snowy road,put chains on the tires.
  • The distance you can slip when braking does not differ between a 4-wheel drive and a 2-wheel drive car.

Snow and loading

  • In Nagano Prefecture, you can not drive a car with snow on the roof.
  • If you have snow on the roof, the snow will fall off and may break the windscreen or prove to be an obstruction to the following car.

*Please remove the snow before driving.