Winter tyres: where and when required in Europe?
Posted on 19-11-2013 at 15:20 by robbie – 88 Comments”
Winter tyres. It seems almost as if the situation around whether or not mandatory use of these special relationships each year more complex. We set the rules for the main European countries at a glance.
Winter tyres are compulsory in some countries are, we all know. However, it is not always clear when winter tyres are now mandatory to be used. Many countries have, in fact, no fixed period, but use the rather vague term “wintry conditions”. What they exactly mean? In general, you can assume that all frost, snow or freezing rain.
The netherlands
In our country the situation is simple. Winter tyres are never mandatory. That is always painfully obvious if there are three flakes of snow have fallen, and half of the Netherlands in the file.
Belgium
In the south, the situation is comparable with that in the Netherlands. Also in Belgium is not required to have winter tyres to use when it’s freezing or snowing.
Germany
Since 2010, it is mandatory in Germany on a ‘proper’ tyres to drive in the event of winter weather. So, those are winter tires, but also so-called all weather tires (vierseizoenenbanden) and tyres with the M+S logo are allowed. There is no fixed period to which these rules apply. If in October and already snowing or freezing, then you will also need suitable tyres.
Austria
Between 1 november and 15 april, it is mandatory in winter conditions on all wheels, winter tyres to carry or fit snow chains on the drive wheels (may also be combined). So, if you have no winter tyres, you can fit snow chains to use, but a disadvantage of this is that you are not very hard and can drive. On certain mountain roads the use of winter tyres compulsory.
Switzerland
In Switzerland is no legal provision for the use of winter tyres, but you may be on your summer tyres do not cause some nuisance. If you do you risk a fine.
Luxembourg
In Luxembourg, winter tyres are compulsory in “winter conditions” such as frost, snow and freezing rain.
France
Also in this country, winter tyres are not mandatory, but recommended in the case of bad conditions.
In addition, in some mountain areas, again specific rules arranged. So can snow chains in certain countries, under certain circumstances, be obliged be made. If you are on winter vacation so it is always handy to have a set of chains in the back. If you are completely safe want to go, you can have the best winter tires to mount as soon as the temperature drops below 7 degrees Celsius or below.
In the figure below, a useful summary of the situation in various European countries.
If you want to know in which countries winter tires are still mandatory, then take a look here.