Are winter tires mandatory everywhere in Europe?

Mobility

December 6, 2022

In which country should we or should not we necessarily have winter tires?

In which countries are winter tires required or not?

There is no uniform European regulation on this subject, each country has its own regulations. So in which country are winter tires mandatory or not?

This question tends to appear more frequently during winter. Many of you will leave for winter holidays or even the February vacations so we want to provide you with as much information as possible so you can enjoy your holidays in peace and without any concerns.

The most popular destinations for skiing in Europe are the Austrian, French, Italian and Suisse Alpes and these countries often contain different laws about the use of winter tires.

Countries where winter tires are mandatory during a specific period

Bulgaria
Estonia
Croatia
Latvia
Lithuania
Slovenia
Sweden

Countries where winter tires are mandatory but under certain conditions*

Germany
Austria
Finland
Iceland
Luxembourg
Norway
Czech Republic
Romania
Slovakia

* Winter conditions which may differ from country to country (black ice, packed snow, melting snow, patches of ice or frost).

Countries where winter tires are not mandatory unless a road sign requires it

France
Spain
Italy

Countries where winter tires are not mandatory

Belgium
Cyprus
Denmark
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Malta
Poland
Netherlands
Portugal
United Kingdom

These countries will not punish you for not driving with winter tires, however they recommend them when the weather conditions in winter are bad, don't be selfish, you must also think about the safety of others.

Sanctions vary according to the different European countries, so if you want to find out more, please visit the website of the C onsumers in Europe.