WINTER TYRE REGULATIONS IN GERMANY

According to German law, your car must be suitable for driving in winter conditions. When it snows, you should use winter tyres or all-season tyres with the snowflake symbol or 3 PMSF symbol. Also, your windshield wipers must not be worn out and you must have enough windshield washer fluid with you.

WHEN ARE WINTER TYRES MANDATORY IN GERMANY?

Winter conditions are according to German law: ice, slipperiness due to snow, snow mud and slipperiness due to ice and frost formation. Do you want to be sure that you are safe? Then drive with winter tyres from October to April, so with the Vredestein Comtrac 2 Winter, Snowtrac 5 or the new Wintrac Pro. The all-season tyres are also suitable: the Comtrac 2 All Season, Quatrac 5 and Quatrac Pro. After all, they have the required Alpine symbol. Various tests have shown that they offer almost as much grip in the snow as winter tyres.

WHAT IS THE MINIMUM PROFILE OF WINTER TYRES IN GERMANY?

The 'legal' tread depth is 1.6 millimetres! However, the German ADAC and various experts advise to keep to 4 millimetres. This tread depth is also the minimum 'legal' requirement in Austria, for example. With less profile, a winter tyre is no longer classified as a winter tyre and you are in violation if you drive it in the winter.

WHERE ARE WINTER TYRES MANDATORY IN GERMANY?

The use of winter tyres in winter conditions applies throughout Germany. All season tyres are fine in the flatter north. However, if you come to the south of Bavaria, consider choosing winter tyres in the winter. After all, the snowfall can be heavy there. In those conditions, the Snowtrac and Wintrac tyres perform better, for example when starting off on a steep, slippery slope.

WINTER TYRES GERMANY 2019

Tyres with only an M + S designation are no longer sufficient. As of 2018, they must also have the snowflake symbol or 3 PMSF symbol. However, a transitional arrangement has been included in the law: until September 30, 2024, tyres with only an M + S marking may still be used. These must have been produced before 1 January 2018. So, pay close attention to the production date of your tyres.

WINTER TYRES GERMANY 2020

As of 1 July 2020, the legislation in Germany regarding winter tyres for commercial vehicles and buses will change. They must then be equipped with winter tyres on the driven axles and on the steering axle. Until July 1, 2020, so including winter 2019-2020, winter tyres are only mandatory on the driven axles during winter conditions. The legislation applies to commercial vehicles heavier than 3,500 kg and to passenger buses with more than eight seats - excluding the driver.

WHICH VREDESTEIN TYRES ARE PERMITTED AS WINTER TYRES IN GERMANY?

All Vredestein winter and all-season tyres are permitted. For the lighter passenger cars, this is the Snowtrac 5. For larger cars, preferably choose the Wintrac Pro. The Comtrac 2 Winter is specifically for delivery vans. Furthermore, the all-season tyres Quatrac 5, Quatrac Pro and Comtrac 2 All Season (vans) are allowed in winter. These tyres have the required snowflake symbol or 3 PMSF symbol.