# Know How
Winter regulations
European regulations for winter equipment on trucks and buses
| Country | Tyre regulations | Snow chain regulations | Further information |
| Albania | No general winter tyre regulations. | Snow chains for the drive axle must be carried in the vehicle. Use according to traffic signs and road conditions. | Studded tyres are prohibited |
| Austria | Winter tyres compulsory from 1 November to 15 April. Risk of driving ban and heavy fines if you do not comply (€35 up to €5,000). Vehicles > 3.5 t GVW must be equipped with tyres marked M+S and/or Alpine symbol (3PMSF) on at least one drive axle with a min. tread depth of 6 mm (bias) and 5 mm (radial). Winter tyres are compulsory for buses (categories M2, M3) from 1 November to 15 March. | Snow chains must be carried in the vehicle for at least two drive axle tyres from 1 November to 15 April. Exceptions for public service buses apply. | Studded tyres are prohibited for vehicles > 3.5 t GVW. |
| Use on roads covered with snow and ice. | |||
| Belgium | No general winter tyre regulations. Symmetric fitting compulsory for M+S and winter tyres. | Snow chains only allowed on roads covered with snow and/or ice. | Studded tyres prohibited. |
| Bosnia- | From 15 November to 15 April for vehicles with more than 8 seats and for vehicles with > 3.5 t GVW a minimum tread depth of 4 mm is mandatory. If tyres do not have winter pattern, snow chains must be fitted on drive axle in wintry weather conditions. | Snow chains must be carried in the vehicle from 15 November to 15 April. | A snow shovel and a bag of sand weighing between 25 kg and 50 kg must be carried in the vehicle. Studded tyres prohibited. |
| Herzegovina | |||
| Belarus | No general winter tyre regulations. | Snow chains only allowed on roads covered with snow and ice. | Studded tyres allowed. |
| Bulgaria | From 15 November to 1 March tyres with minimum 4 mm tread depth are mandatory. | Snow chains must be carried in the vehicle from 1 November to 31 March. Usage is compulsory on mountain passes when indicated by traffic signs. | Studded tyres prohibited. Without adequate winter equipment, entry into the country may be refused or a driving ban may be issued. |
| Croatia | Winter tyres compulsory from 15 November to 15 April. M+S tyres must be fitted on the drive axle of vehicles > 3.5 t GVW. | Snow chains required for the drive axle in certain conditions (if the vehicle is equipped with SU tyres). Snow chains compulsory in some regions (Lika/Gorski Kotar). | Studded tyres prohibited. Commercially used vehicles must carry a snow shovel. |
| Czech | Winter tyres compulsory from 1 November to 31 March depending on road conditions in winter, or if indicated by "winter kit" sign. M+S tyres with min. 6 mm tread depth must be fitted on the drive axle of vehicles > 3.5 t GVW. | Differing traffic signs possible. Snow chains are compulsory if indicated by traffic signs on at least 2 drive wheels of vehicles with 3 or more axles. | Studded tyres prohibited. |
| Republic | |||
| Denmark | No general winter tyre regulations. | Snow chains allowed from 1 November to 15 April. | Studded tyres allowed from 1 November to 15 April. Studded tyres should be mounted on all tyres during this period. |
| Estonia | Winter tyres compulsory for vehicles < 3.5 t GVW (radial tyres with min. 3 mm tread depth) from 1 December to 1 March (also from October to April depending on weather). Heavier vehicles do not require winter tyres, but minimum tread depth of 3 mm is mandatory. | Snow chains are compulsory if indicated by traffic signs on at least 2 drive wheels of vehicles with 3 or more axles. | Studded tyres allowed between 15 October and 31 March. |
| Finland | Mandatory to drive with winter tyres from 1 November to 31 March, if wintry weather conditions prevail. Non-steering drive axles need to be fitted with 3PMSF or POR or studded tyres. M+S marked tyres allowed until 30.11.2024. On drive axle min. 5 mm and all other axles min. 3 mm tread depth. | Snow chains only allowed on roads covered with snow and ice. | Studded tyres allowed between 1 November to 31 March if winter conditions prevail. |
| France | Winter equipment is mandatory for vehicles driving on roads marked with the B26 and/or B58 sign. The following changes apply from 2021: From November 1 to March 31, at the discretion of the local authorities (préfectures), vehicles > 3,5 t GVW must be fitted with 3PMSF tyres (minimum of two 3PMSF tyres on one steer axle and minimum of two 3PMSF tyre on one drive axle) or mount snow chains for the drive axle. There is a transition period until 2024 for M+S tyres already in use. | Use of snow chains when indicated by traffic signs. | Vehicles < 3.5 t GVW: Studded tyres allowed from first Saturday before 11 November to last Sunday of March, max. speed 90 km/h. Vehicles with studded tyres have to be labelled with a sticker. Studded tyres are prohibited for vehicles > 3.5 t GVW. |
| Germany | In wintry weather conditions vehicles with > 3.5 t GVW must be fitted with tyres marked with 3PMSF at the wheel positions of the permanently driven axles and front steering axles. Only M+S tyres produced before 1 January 2018 are accepted until 30 September 2024. | Use of snow chains when indicated by traffic signs. Studded tyres prohibited. Exception: Route via “Kleines Deutsches Eck”. | €60 fine for unsuitable tyres; €80 fine for causing obstruction/disturbance of traffic due to unsuitable tyres; €100 fine for causing hazardous situation due to un suitable tyres; €120 fine for causing an accident due to un suitable tyres. Plus 1 point in each case (Flensburg points system). |
| Great Britain | No general winter tyre regulations. | Snow chains only allowed on roads covered with snow and ice. | Studded tyres allowed, but only on snow & ice covered roads, and as long as the street surface does not get damaged. Non compliance can result in a penalty fine. |
| Hungary | No general winter tyre regulations. | Snow chains only allowed on roads covered with snow and ice. It may be compulsory to apply and carry snow chains under certain weather conditions (max. speed: 50 km/h). In wintry conditions, foreign vehicles may be denied access if no snow chains are carried on board. | Studded tyres prohibited. |
| Iceland | During the period from 1 November until 15 April trucks and buses shall be fitted with tyres with at least 3.0 mm tread depth. | Snow chains are only allowed where there is no risk of causing damage to the road. | |
| Ireland | No general winter tyre regulations. | Snow chains only allowed when roads covered with snow and ice. | Studded tyres are allowed, but only on snow & ice covered roads, max. speed 60/70 mph (national road/motorway). |
| Italy | Snow chains are only allowed where there is no risk of causing damage to the road. | An anti-skid device (e.g. snow chains) must be carried in the vehicle. | Winter regulation prot. RU/1580 applies only to the following vehicles categories: M1, N1 and O1. In the event of snow the local police may impose a transit prohibition on some highway sections. |
| Kosovo | No general winter tyre regulations. | Snow chains for the drive axle must be carried in the vehicle. Use according to traffic signs and conditions. | Studded tyres prohibited. Buses and trucks must carry a snow shovel. |
| Latvia | Winter tyres (M+S) with minimum 4 mm tread depth compulsory for vehicles < 3.5 t GVW from 1 December to 1 March. Heavier vehicles do not require winter tyres, but a minimum tread depth of 3 mm is mandatory. | Snow chains only allowed on roads covered with snow and ice. | Studded tyres allowed between 1 October and 30 April for vehicles > 3.5 t GVW. |
| Liechtenstein | No general winter tyre regulations. However, there are liability issues if unsuitable tyres are used. The vehicle equipment must be suitable for the weather conditions. | Snow chains allowed. Not necessary in valleys. In the mountains, traffic signs indicate if snow chains are compulsory. | Vehicles > 7.5 t GVW: Studded tyres allowed from 1 November to 30 April, max. speed 50 mph. All tyres should be equipped with studded tyres. Vehicles with studded tyres have to be labelled with a sticker. |
| Lithuania | Winter tyres compulsory for vehicles < 3.5 t GVW from 1 November to 1 April. Heavier vehicles do not require winter tyres, but a minimum tread depth of 1.6 mm is mandatory. | Snow chains only allowed on roads covered with snow and ice. | Studded tyres allowed between 1 November and 1 April. |
| Luxembourg | All drive axles on trucks and buses need to be equipped with winter tyres (M+S) during wintry weatcher conditions (snow, ice, glazed frost). | Snow chains only allowed on roads covered with snow and ice. | Studded tyres prohibited. |
| Macedonia | No general winter tyre regulations. | Snow chains must be carried in the vehicle from 15 October to 15 March if vehicle has only standard tyres fitted. | Coaches and heavy trucks must carry snow shovels. Studded tyres prohibited. |
| Montenegro | Winter tyres compulsory from November to April on specific roads, specified by Ministery of Police: M+S with min. 4 mm tread depth. | Snow chains for the drive axle must be carried in the vehicle. Use according to traffic signs and conditions. | Studded tyres prohibited. Buses and trucks must carry a snow shovel. |
| Netherlands | No general winter tyre regulations. | Snow chains not allowed on public roads. | Studded tyres prohibited. |
| Norway | Vehicles > 3.5 t GVW must be fitted with winter tyres from 15 November until 31 March: 3PMSF tyres on drive axle and front steer axle, M+S or 3PMSF tyres on free roling axles. Depending on the region, tyres must have min. 5 mm tread depth during the winter season. In south Norway: between 1 November and first Monday after Easter. In north Norway: between 16 October and 30 April. | It is mandatory for vehicles > 3.5 t GVW to carry snow chains in the period when it is legal to use studs. A truck with trailer must carry 7 chains. | Studding only allowed on winter tyres. Studded tyres (average protrusion: 1.7 mm) allowed from 1 November to the first Sunday after Easter. In Nordland, Troms and Finnmark: from 16 October to 30 April. Trucks and trailers: studded tyres on the same axle. If twin-mounted, one tyre is sufficient. In Trondheim and Oslo a fee is charged for the usage of studded tyres: daily tickets may be acquired at vending machines along the arterial roads or by telephone or text message (send from a Norwegian, Swedish or Danish telephone number). Monthly and annual tickets for Trondheim may be acquired at Trondheim City Parking Office in Erling, Skakkes Gate 40, 7012 Trondheim. Daily tickets cost about €3.90, monthly tickets about €52 and annual tickets about €155 (costs double for vehicles > 3.5 t GVW). A violation is fined with €97.“ |
| Poland | No general winter tyre regulations. | Snow chains only allowed on roads covered with snow and ice. Adequate traffic signs on roads where snow chains are compulsory. | Studded tyres prohibited. |
| Portugal | No general winter tyre regulations. | Snow chains temporarily compulsory when indicated by traffic signs (high-altitude regions only). | Studded tyres prohibited. |
| Romania | In case of wintry road conditions winter tyres with M+S are compulsory for the drive axle of all vehicles > 3.5 t GVW and vehicles transporting people (with more than 9 seats). | Vehicles > 3.5 t GVW have to be equipped with snow chains which need to be mounted when indicated by respective traffic signs. | Shovel and sand required for vehicles > 3.5 t GVW. Studded tyres prohibited. |
| Russia | In December, January and February, passenger light truck, trucks and buses must be equipped on all axles with winter tyres M+S or 3PMSF and a minimum tread depth of 4 mm. | Snow chains are recommended but not compulsory. | Use of studded tyres is forbidden in the summer months (June, July, August). |
| Serbia | Winter tyres (M+S) and min. 4 mm tread depth compulsory from November to April. Use according to traffic signs and conditions. | Snow chains for drive axle must be carried in the vehicle. Use according to traffic signs and conditions. | Studded tyres prohibited. Buses and trucks must carry a snow shovel. |
| Slovakia | Winter tyres (M+S) with min. 3 mm tread depth compulsory for trucks > 3.5 t GVW from 15 November to 31 March on the drive axle. | Snow chains must be carried in the vehicle. | Studded tyres prohibited. |
| Use according to traffic signs and conditions. |
We are currently not aware of general winter tyre rules / snow chain regulations for trucks in the following countries: Cyprus, Greece and Malta. Please consult the traffic regulations in the respective countries for special snow chain and studded tyre rules.
Despite careful research, we cannot guarantee that the information is correct and complete.
Tyres marked with M+S (Mud+Snow) provide a tread pattern or structure that is designed to deliver performance that exceeds that of a standard tyre in snowy conditions. The M+S label is not subject to a defined test procedure.
Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) tyres deliver winter performance that is legally certified. These tyres have to pass a test on a snow-covered road and have at least 25% better traction than a standard reference tyre.
Winter tyres from Continental are marked with the snowflake symbol on the tyre wall. Not only do Continental winter tyres easily outperform M+S tyres, they also significantly exceed the requirements of the “Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake“ symbol (3PMSF). The development of winter tyres from Continental is based on many years of experience and practical knowledge gained from using the tyres in the low temperatures found in Scandinavian countries. These special winter tyres offer a distinct advantage for a safe journey on snow-covered or icy roads.
For optimum traction and high driving safety in colder weather, Continental recommends fitting winter tyres on all axles of your trucks and buses.
