in cold, slippery, snowy or slushy conditions. Remember this rule of thumb: "when the road temperature drops below 7*C, it's time to put on your winter tyres !" another guide is to change to winter tyres at Halloween and summer tyres at Easter. By Carol Paylor New rules were introduced in winter 2021, requiring snow chains or winter tires to be fitted to all cars, motorhomes, and other vehicles in France's mountainous regions. That doesn't mean you should leave your tyres until that point to change them, it is best to change your tyres at 2mm. Having learned today that it's illegal to WASH. Bridgestone Blizzak LM005. View offer. If you live in more remote or rural areas, winter tyres might be a good idea. What other laws should you be aware of? It's a different story in much of mainland Europe, though. Switzerland Flights to Switzerland Mainland Europe on the other hand, is a different story. In the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, driving a motor vehicle on public roads in winter conditions (black ice, packed snow, slush, ice sheets or frost) is permitted only with regulation winter tyres (winter tyres or all-weather tyres marked "M.S.", "M+S", "M&S" or the alpine symbol) mounted on all wheels of the vehicle.. . Options include the WinterContact TS 860 . Below 7 Thanks to special tread patterns and more supple compounds, winter tyres provide superior grip and reduced braking distances when temperatures fall below 7C Snow Answer 1 of 3: We are planning to come overland in September, mid Sept with our own car, do we need winter tyres or chains at this time please? Studded winter tyres are allowed between October 1st and April 15th, or in wintry driving conditions. Trucks > 3.5 t GVW must be equipped with tires marked M+S and/or with the Alpine symbol (3PMSF) on at least one drive axle with a min. + Children less than 1.35 m in height may travel in a protective seat, adjusted to their size. Drive safe, beware of mobile speed traps and enjoy your time in Austria. On 01 November 2021, a new law came into effect in France, stating a legal requirement to either have winter tyres fitted or to carry/ wear snow chains where directed. You will need to fit winter tyres, or face the consequences of breaking the law. There are 3 main types of tyre you can choose for your car; winter tyres, summer tyres and all-weather tyres. Winter tyres have been proven to outperform summer and all season tyres in winter driving conditions. It's not a legal requirement for UK drivers to fit winter tyres and as a result, the majority of people drive on their summer tyres all year round.. Germany. The right winter tyre will keep your car safe on icy roads, and help you drive safely through snow and ice. Fire extinguisher. Has anyone here driven through Europe in winter? Do I need winter tyres? Winter Tyres. The rules vary - from compulsory between certain dates, regions or conditions - as do the definitions of winter tyres, and even winter itself. Research suggests winter tyres are better than summer tyres any time the temperature drops below 7 o C. This means a car fitted with winter tyres should stop quicker and be less likely to skid in any tricky weather conditions. Premium tyre makers, like Continental Tyres, offer a comprehensive range of winter tyres for all types of cars, allowing drivers to be better protected in cold temperature conditions. Critically this could potentially be life saving. Nokian Tyres recommends changing winter tyres when 4 millimetres of tread remain. All vehicles on snow-covered roads must have winter tyres or all-season tyres marked M+S (mud and snow) between 1 November and 15 April. Reduced speed limits may apply). Did you really buy a whole new set of tyres for one trip? Got me thinking, do I need a set of winter tyres for the Foz? Parts of Italy have similar rules to France. Sweden - The use of winter tyres is mandatory between 1 December and 31 March, with one of the following markings 'M&S', 'MS', M.S', 'M+S', 'M-s' or 'Mud and Snow'. Austria Belarus Bosnia Herzegovina Czech Republic Estonia Finland Germany Iceland Latvia Lithuania Macedonia Moldova Montenegro Russia Serbia Slovenia Sweden Laws surrounding the use of winter tyres vary from country to country and even region to region. All-weather tires and winter tires can be mixed in winter road conditions. The legal requirement for tread depth is 1.6 millimetres - the same as for summer tyres. All are made from slightly different materials to provide optimal performance. Winter tyres - are compulsory for vehicles up to and including a GVW of 3500kg from 1st December to 31st March during wintry conditions and with a tread depth of no less than 3mm remaining. In Sweden, winter tires or equal equipment are mandatory between 1st December and 31st March. Snow chains are recommended. It's also worth noting that chains are not a substitute for winter tyres. Once the temperatures go above 7C winter tyres offer a poorer performance, with increased braking distances and poorer performance on bends. Reply. Switzerland - Winter tyres are not legally required, but road signs across Switzerland will indicate when the use of snow chains is compulsory. Instead, winter tyres are simply designed to be used when temperatures are low and the roads are slippery. Designed for compact and mid-sized cars . Tread depth: A minimum 5 mm tread depth is required on tyres of vehicles with a GVW over 3.5 t (both motor vehicles and their trailers) between 1 November and the first Sunday after Easter Monday.. Studded tyres: not allowed in vehicles with a weight exceeding 3.5 tonnes.. For vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes, studded tyres allowed from first Saturday before 11th November to last Sunday of March, max . 'Mountain Law' or Loi Montagne applies to 48 different French departements, and penalties for non-compliance apply. . In the south the law says not to put on winter tires before 1st November, but in the north the date is more fluid, we can put on our winter tires in october if the weather forecast predict snow and/or ice. Make sure you check the production date and the symbol when buying new tyres. If the streets are fully covered by snow or ice, winter tires with the M+S symbol are obligatory for vehicles under 3.5 tonnes. It is mandatory for all winter tyres or all-season tyres manufactured after 1 January 2018 to have an Alpine symbol. Winter tires compulsory from 1 November to 15 April. Whilst driving abroad it's important to adhere to the driving laws in that country. Continental WinterContact TS 860, from 83.99 at Halfords - buy here. Click to see full answer Can I drive with all season tires in winter in Germany? Michelin Pilot Alpin 5 SUV. #9. You must also use winter tyres if roads have a covering of snow, slush or ice outside these dates. Leave a Comment Cancel reply. Tires of different sizes or widths are not allowed to mix on a vehicle. Andreas Diamantides. In Germany, for example, the regulation stipulates that commercial vehicles with a permissible total mass of over 3.5t must be equipped with winter tyres in winter conditions not only on the drive axle, but also on the "front steering axles". It's no great surprise that Scotland, Northern England and Northern Ireland are the coldest regions of the UK and winter tyres are recommended from Octover through to April here, that's over 50% of the year. 3 Winter tyres are compulsory for vehicles registered in Bulgaria during wintry road conditions and are strongly recommended for visitors. Auto Suisse says that a default rule to follow is consider replacing summer tyres with winter ones from October until Easter, although this is of course dependent on the conditions. In fact, as of 2018 the RAC recorded that 73.4 . Winter tyre prices will vary depending on the manufacturer, but anything over 500 is likely for four tyres. European laws. So if you're venturing into France be aware that you currently need to have winter tyres or chains to hand. Speeding, a new law came into force as from 1st Sept 2021 with higher finesupto 5000 in extreme cases. At temperatures below 7C, summer tyres are less effective. We assume that there will be some snow on these roads even in. Winter tyres are compulsory in some countries from November/December through to April/March, so make sure you check the guidelines before driving abroad during the winter. Trucks and buses must have snow tires at all times from November through April 15, whether there are "winter conditions" or not. Permitted when conditions appropriate Driver is resposible to ensure vehicle to safe, no winter tyre law although highly recommended. As from 1 June 2019, heavy trucks, heavy buses and private cars class II (campers) with a total weight of more than 3.5 metric tons, are to have winter tyres or equivalent equipment on the vehicle when there are wintry conditions on the roads during the period from 1 December to 31 March. In many parts of Europe, it's common for motorists to keep two sets of wheels and tyres for each driving season and in some European countries it is mandatory to have winter tyres fitted at certain times of the year. The legal tread depth for a winter tyre in winter conditions is 4mm in most countries where their use is mandatory in winter. Winter tyres should always be fitted in sets of 4. Continental WinterContact TS 860, from 86.50 at Kwik Fit - buy here. Basically depends on where. As a general rule, you may use studded tyres from November 11th until the last Sunday of March the following year (March 29th 2020). The regulation is not applicable to foreign cars but fitment is recommended to avoid liability issues in the event of accident or collision. 1. The best winter tyre 2021. They can offer a great compromise for drivers, especially if you live . However, once your tread is under 3 millimetres, you will find tyre centres recommend you change them, as does FDM. 2. Winter tyres laws across Europe Where are winter tyres mandatory in Europe? This requirement applies to all tyres on the vehicle . Tyres which qualify as winter tyres are marked "M + S", which stands for "Mud and Snow" and have a mountain and snowflake symbol. Trucks and busses have to be assembled with winter tires from November 15th to March 31st, as well as during wintery weather conditions outside of this time period. From a performance and safety perspective the definitive answer is yes. In Germany, the law states that all vehicles must be fitted with M+S tyres when conditions are wintry which could extend beyond the regulation 1 November to 15 April period. Winter Tyres by Region. The legal minimum tread depth for winter tyres in most European countries is 3 mm. On a winter tyre, it's usually between 8mm and 9mm. Estonia Between 1st December and 1st March, all vehicles must be equipped with winter tyres (when weather conditions require it, this period can be extended and cover the time between October and April). Central London has the highest mean temperature of any region and only drops below 7 degrees C on average in . Regional governments may adapt this date to local weather . Can I drive with my studded winter tyres in Europe or do I need to change to my summer tyres? January 8, 2020 at 12:35 pm . Latvia The "winterdienst" or winter service on Austrian roads are generally very well coordinated. All car owners in Austria have two sets of wheels, one set with Summer tyres and one set with Winter tyres. It'd be incorrect to assume that all UK drivers don't need winter tyres. The best solution is to use tyres certified for winter. Winter tyre requirements in Europe Andorra Winter tyres - RECOMMENDED Note - from 1 November to 15 April and if roads are covered in snow, slush or ice outside these dates. They drastically reduce stopping distances on snow, ice and in wet weather at low temperatures. In snow & ice, the technology in winter tyres will give an electric car more grip and improve handling. How much do winter tyres cost? In some European countries where weather conditions are more extreme it is mandatory for vehicles to switch to winter tyres. Snow chains are intended as a temporary measure to ensure . Jun 12, 2017. In Germany, for the winter of 2022/2023, tires on trucks must be fitted to all permanently driven drive axles of vehicles over 3.5 tons in "winter conditions", i.e. However, development of tyre technology has progressed significantly over the years. Name Email Website. A mate who drives an old barge (BMW 540i) reckons that he will survive the predicted El-Nino better with his winter boots on (RWD remember) than me in my Foz (summer tyres). The Local. I've heard that winter tyres are a legal requirement in some European countries. The period for mandatory winter tyres has been set from November 1st to March 31st, but the geographical areas and altitudes where the order will apply will be at the discretion of local authorities in the municipalities affected by the new ruling. Rental Cars. There are two categories of winter tyre: studded and stud-free. The main difference between winter tyres and regular tyres is the tread depth. In many European countries, some new rules for trucks have been in force since 1 November. In most of Europe away from the southern countries many drivers now use winter tyres throughout the cold weather, fitting them at the end of October and keeping them on the car until April. Updated October 2014. . If you decide to drive to Alta, you will need (studded) winter tyres. Driving in winter conditions can be challenging for all of us, to better prepare drivers for travelling in winter conditions, legally some countries will have restrictions on the equipment a vehicle should carry or have fitted, including in particular, snow tires. An interesting point (which seems so obvious once you know) is that winter tyres come with a significantly deeper tread to start with - around 9.5mm compared to 7mm on a summer tyre. Winter tyres are made from a compound featuring a larger percentage of natural rubber and silica. Leading premium tyre manufacturers, like Continental, offer an extensive, comprehensive range of superb winter tyres that are ideal for travelling in Europe and are designed and built for the most demanding cold weather and snowy conditions. The vehicle must have winter tyres on the wheels on one of the drive axles at a minimum, even if the road is clear of snow and ice. CLICK THE BANNER BELOW FOR YOUR FREE EUROPEAN CAR HIRE OR LEASING QUOTE Never had them before so looking for advice: * Are they. In Austria, winter tires are mandatory from November 1 to April 15, but only if there is snow and ice on the roads. Don't forget, if you are planning a trip to France, whether in winter or summer, grab your . GERMANY & LUXEMBOURG. Studded tires are allowed between 1st October and 15th April or if winter road conditions apply or are expected. In Sweden, for instance, winter tyres are compulsory from the beginning of December to the end of March. Winter tyres for caravans and motorhomes from July 2020 Since trailers and caravans are not self-propelled but towed, the rules do not apply to them. In the south of Norway its not legal to drive with studs before 1st of november (unless the . Do the German police really expect tourists to do that? In general, studded tyres are better suited for icy roads or on surfaces with hard-packed snow, while stud-free tyres work better on roads with soft snow. Best winter tyre for snow. If you are caught without winter tyres in Austria in such conditions, you will be fined 35. Check the Tread Depth The first thing you should do is check the tread depth on your tyres, the minimum tread depth allowed is 1.6mm. And in Austria, they must be fitted between 1 November and 15 April or you face a 5,000 fine. Still, it is handy to know that from October to Easter - Oktober bis Ostern - winter tyres, or equivalent, are needed to drive in a number of European countries. If other road users are endangered by your non-compliance to drive with winter tyres in Austria, the fine can be as high as 5,000. Because of this reality, motorists and drivers should make it a point to make use of two alternative sets of tyres. You can keep the same wheels and get a tyre fitter to swap your tyres twice a year - summer to winter in the autumn and winter to summer in the spring - or you can buy a second set of wheels.