Advice on the suitability of winter tyres as substitutes for snow chains will be sought from the New Zealand Transport Agency by the Queenstown Lakes District Council.
Infrastructure committee members heard recently requests had been received to allow the use of winter tyres on the council's roads.
The council's traffic and parking bylaw enables police to direct a motorist to fit chains.
The bylaw gives police discretion on the circumstances in which they can direct chains to be fitted, but ''this can be problematic, given the level of knowledge required to be able to judge the capability of different winter tyres in different conditions'', the tabled report said.
Queenstown police have decided that if ''chains to be fitted'' signs are in place, officers will direct and enforce the fitting of chains.
Infrastructure and assets staff are concerned a blanket exemption from chains requirements for any vehicle using winter tyres would be ''inappropriate'', given the different capabilities of winter tyres on the market.
However, transport policy and stakeholder manager Denis Mander said Queenstown police would agree with the council on special dispensation for users of snow tyres which are tested at the Snow Farm.
The dispensation would not need a change in the bylaw, Mr Mander said.
