What are the rules about winter tyres and snow chains in Switzerland?

Transportation, Travel and Trips
61
My wife has just told me that this evening nearby the Bahnhof Aarburg, there by the traffic lights (near company Franke), the police was stopping cars both sides and checking the tyres with the flashlight. She has the winter tyres on and the traffic cop just noted in approval “Schöne Abig“. I’m confused, are they really checking if the winter tyres are on or just if the tread on tyres is in norm?

62
checking tyre condition. but also an excuse to check for anything else. happens frequently here.

63
Tread depth.

There is no requirement for winter rubber.

Tom

64
Not in Ticino, except for Italians.

Tom

65
true, admittedly they most often wave TI plates on without stopping. nothing wrong with prejudice if its based on repeated statistical observation!

66
That’s what I have told her and she insisted that I immediately fit the winter tyres on, otherwise I will be fined

67
We'll see tomorrow, I and my colleague are both working from home tomorrow, not because we lack the proper stuff, but because of all the commuters that do!

Tom

68
Where?

Tom

69
Got mine on today at last - 28.- at local garage. I truly wish proper winter tyres would be made compusory in Switzerland once and for all- and stop all this nonsense.

70
We have multiple cars, and don't use all in winter, so no need.

And none of our 8 motorcycles have snow tires.

Anyway, on the one day a year that it snows, I either don't drive or take one of the 4x4s with winter or all season tires.

Tom

71
I think i'll get up early, load my skis into my 1960 Mini, drive up to the top and ski back home

after all there are only a couple of days a year you can....

72
if you block the road because you get blocked and the police find out that you have summer tires, you will get fined.

If you create an accident due to inability to brake soon enough and someone ends up paralyzed or anything, and it was snowy or icy and you have summer tires, the insurance will try to dump the 200k+ costs onto you because you didn't have appropriate equipment. Same goes for flip-flops (in all situations).

If you drive only in the swiss plateau/low altitudes during difficult days like this weekend will be in ticino, then there isn't really a situation where chains could be obligatory.

that is a very low price.

73

So only use the one/s with winter tyres when conditions require it. Certainly should be compulsory for driving in mountains- as you never know when snow and ice will be present. Can leave home with good weather conditions and then it all changes in a matter of 1 hour or two.

74
it's not only snow and ice. below 7 degrees winter compound provides more grip even in the dry. (now I promise to never mention the subject again!)

75

indeed, he even changed the bolts in the price, as he said they looked better than the ones with the tyres

76
that's what he said ...

It's compulsory to have the right equipment, that is enough, and it's not even hard to decide - the only real parameter is temperature in the driving location, with maybe lying snow/ice as a secondary but anyway closely related one.

Micromanaging winter tyre use would require the government to define when you need winter tyres in what region etc etc.

77
Thats because the tyres are on rims, so it's the wheels being changed & not the tyres.

It would need to be required all year round, as snow has fallen in August on mountain passes in CH. Snow generally melts quite quickly in August.

78
The annual winter versus all-season discussion never fails the disappoint.

This year is a particularly Goodyear.

I’ll get my coat.

79

quite clearly, if you don't use a car in winter- no need for snow tyres if it stays in garage.

Newtoswitz- the point is, that you never know in Switzerland what will happen next. You can leave home to go to work or on a trip anywhere with over 7C and no snow- and find that it all changes as you go along, or when you have to return. People generally continue to drive to location or return- even if conditions have changed vastly in the meantime.

80
No, it's not.

As already explained many times, causing an accident by driving in an unsafe manner (which may include not being properly equipped if that's tha cause) may have consequences, legal and financial; that's all.

Still seemed very reasonable compared with the rip-off prices I've seen bandied around before. I don't have any personal experience, having always done it myself. Takes me about an hour for a set, then a bit of a rest and some painkillers to let the back recover...