are studded tires legal in California?

[Carlo]

I just spent the weekend in Bolinas for the first time during the winter since we lived in SF.

I've got studded tires mounted on my truck. As I crossed the border from Oregon, I began to wonder if California even allows studded tires.
I stopped for gas just north of Redding at a Shell station that's a well-known CHP hangout, and sure enough, I passed a group of several CHP cars and a motorcycle on the frontage road. As I drove by, with my tires crunching loudly, not one of them even glanced in my direction.
Same thing after I'd gassed up and headed back to I-5. None of them acted like they even noticed. It's not possible for them not to hear that noise, so I concluded that I'm free to drive on to the Bay Area with no fear of getting a ticket, or worse, being ordered to immediately stop and buy new tires somewhere.
Later, in a conversation with a relative in Bolinas, I was told that studded tires aren't allowed in California.
So, is this true? And if it is, why did four CHP patrolmen ignore the obvious fact that I have studded tires? I didn't see one of them look over my way as I drove by.
For 599 miles of my driving in California, I didn't benefit from having studded tires, but interestingly, on Lucas Valley road, I passed a place early yesterday morning on the way out where there was a bit of ice.

 

[GrizFyrFyter]

yes, they are legal.

you might catch crap is you are using them come summer though....

 

[Carlo]

yes, they are legal.

you might catch crap is you are using them come summer though....

Thanks for the info.

Oregon only allows them between November and April, with occasional extensions depending on weather.

 

[deathbug74]

Thanks for the info.

Oregon only allows them between November and April, with occasional extensions depending on weather.

found this, which looks like CA follows the same "november to april" timeframe.

 

[terdog55]

They will wear out very much faster without some snow / ice on the ground.

 

[Carlo]

They will wear out very much faster without some snow / ice on the ground.

I know. I'm willing to live with that given that you never know for sure when you're going to have freezing rain or snow during the winter around here. Plus two or three ski trips every winter.
If it's warmer, I always ride my bike anyway, so the truck doesn't get much use at times when I don't need the snow tires. If I plan to drive a lot during the winter, I have the tires mounted on spare rims, and it only takes me about 45 minutes to swap them around.
I thought it was best to leave them on for this trip, as the mountains in southern Oregon were pretty cold, and had fairly recent snow and rain. I saw a couple of cars that had spun out on the way down, so it was the best choice.