Winter Tyres - European Regulations

Over half of UK motorists have never even heard of winter tyres, according to a survey by Continental Tyres. There are no regulations or even guidance for winter tyres in this country, so it's not surprising that most drivers are unaware of the winter tyre laws that exist in other European countries. In order to educate motorists, here is a guide from Continental.

Winter tyres are a legal requirement during the winter in the following countries:

Austria:

From 1 November to 15 April it is illegal to not have winter tyres, which must have a tread depth of at least four millimetres. In addition, snow chains can also be mandated for certain stretches of road. Studs are permitted on vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes; speed limits apply.

CzechRepublic:

Winter tyres are mandatory from November 1 until March 31 by law, but only on certain highways, indicated by special road signs.

Estonia:

Winter tyres are mandatory from December 1 to the end of February, although this can be shortened or extended, depending on weather conditions. Studs are not permitted.

Finland:

Winter tyres are mandatory from December 1 through the end of February for both foreign and local vehicles.

Germany:

According to German road traffic regulations (StVO), motorists are required to adapt the equipment of their car to the weather conditions, so it is a "situation-based winter tyre requirement". Motorists who violate this regulation are subject to fines and may have punitive points added to their driving licence. An amendment is likely to be made to the law this winter, specifying the weather conditions and tyre qualities in greater detail. An increase in fines is also expected in coming years.

Latvia:

Winter tyres are mandatory from December 1 through the end of February.

Lithuania:

Winter tyres are mandatory from 1 November to 1 April.

Slovakia:

Winter tyres are mandatory.

Slovenia:

Winter tyres are mandatory from 15 November to 15 March, with a minimum tread depth of four millimetres. But according to Slovenian law, two winter tyres per vehicle are sufficient. However, experts say that winter tyres must be fitted on all wheels to avoid handling and braking problems.

Guidance for other European countries:

Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg:

While winter tyres are not mandatory, it is advisable to fit vehicles with winter tyres. In the hilly regions along the German border, snow is nearly a certainty with temperatures below freezing common in winter. Without winter tyres, the braking distances become longer. Studded tyres are forbidden so winter tyres are a good option to keep you moving in the BeNeLux region.

Denmark:

The Danes are not required to have winter tyres, but a large percentage do change them. Studs are permitted, but are hardly ever used. In view of the cold temperatures alone, winter tyres are recommended.

France:

Winter tyres are not mandatory. Snow chains may be obligatory for certain stretches. Studded tyres can be fitted on cars as well (from the beginning of November to the end of March, with speed limits of 55 mph out of town, 30mph in town). The car must have a sticker indicating that it is equipped with studded tyres. Despite the fact that winter tyres are not mandatory, it is safer to use them in areas such as the French Alps.

Italy:

The use of winter tyres is not a requirement, although they can be specified for certain stretches of road. There are no specific regulations regarding the use of snow chains. Anyone choosing to fit studded tyres must comply with the speed limits (55 mph out of town and 30mph in town)

Norway:

Foreign vehicles in Norway are not required to have winter tyres, but it is highly recommended. In general, all motorists are required to equip their vehicles with tyres that are suited to the weather conditions and - if necessary - to carry snow chains.

Poland:

It is not a legal requirement to have winter tyres. However, since there is hardly any snow removal in the countryside, driving without reliable winter tyres is a major risk.

Romania:

There are currently no regulations regarding winter tyres in Romania. The Ministry of Transportation has announced that the government will approve an emergency ordinance in December 2010 requiring motorists to equip their vehicles with winter tyres from 1 November to 31 March. The new regulation will go into effect in 2011.

Sweden:

Foreign vehicles are not required to have winter tyres. Winter tyres are however mandatory for Swedish vehicles. But driving in Sweden without winter tyres is not recommended since grit is not spread on many roads.

Switzerland:

Winter tyres are not mandatory. However, winter tyres are recommended since if there was an accident which is proven to have been caused by summer tyres, the driver may be held jointly liable, which can have significant consequences. The Swiss collision insurance does not cover such cases. Snow chains and studs are optional. They may however be mandated by signs (also on all-wheel-drive vehicles). Studs are not permitted on most motorways in Switzerland. A speed limit of 50 mph out of town and 30 mph in town applies when driving on studded tyres. It is therefore a good idea to use winter tyres in Switzerland.

Know the rules but what defines a winter tyre?

There are no Europe-wide regulations for the sidewall markings of winter tyres. The EU defined what an M+S winter tyre should look like in 1992 (92/23 EEC, Amendment II). This was 'tyres with a tread and structure designed to provide better handling characteristics in slush and fresh or melting snow than normal tyres. The tread of M+S tyres is in general characterized by larger tread grooves and/or lugs that are separated by larger gaps in the tread than is the case on normal tyres.'

Based on this definition, today's winter tyres really are not M+S winter tyres at all. The popular ContiWinterContact TS 810 Sport with its sophisticated asymmetric tread design is a rather delicately-designed high-tech link between the car and the road. The M+S definition makes no mention of the important tread compound suitable for winter conditions. The snowflake symbol, which can be found on nearly all high-performance winter tyres, shows that a tyre has a 'winter' compound. Tyres with the snowflake symbol when tested were shown to be at least seven percent better when ABS braking on snow than a reference standard tyre with M+S marking.