Snow tires shall include tires in which the ply cords extending to the beads are nearly at right angles to the center line of the tread commonly referred to as radial tires and the commissioner shall promulgate rules and regulations defining the term snow tire with respect to non-radial tires. No person whose motor vehicle is equipped with radial tires or tires which conform to the definition promulgated by the commissioner shall be prosecuted for a violation of any local law or ordinance requiring the equipping of a motor vehicle with snow tires during any period of declared snow emergency.
New York Legal Code