When do I need to mount Winter tires on Car

Transportation, Travel and Trips
1
This is my first full winter in Switzerland,

Is there a specific date that I need to have my winter tires on my car?

How about for:

- Germany

- Austria

- Italy

- France

- Slovenia

I'm going to be doing a driving trip throughout October (haven't determined all the details or all the countries visited yet) so I want to be prepared.

The current road tires I have on the car are new as of August, so I'm not to worried about the tread. But I want to know if there is any legal date I must change my tires to their winter counterparts.

OH - my car is a 4x4 (subaru) if that makes a difference

2
There is no date, nor requirement, in Switzerland.

Some parts of Italy require winter tires from mid-November to mid-April, but only if there is snow on the road.

Tom

3
Very often you don't need winter tyres and all seasons with a snowflake symbol are also legally valid.

4
Rule of thumb ...

5
In CH there is no 'legally valid' for winter tyres, as there is no legal need to have them in CH. See Sandgrounder's post for the correct info from TCS.

6
That info is all correct, however the original question was about, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Italy, France and Slovenia and not specified to Switzerland

7
this is an excellent opportunity to show how integrated you are and do a "von O bis O"

8
Germany: When there is „Glatteis, Schneeglätte, Schneematsch, Eis- oder Reifglätte“ (black ice, snow, slush, ice, or slippery frost) on the road

9
Any M+S tyre will do in Germany, no legal need for special winter tyres.

10
On the practical side, if your car is not equipped for prevailing conditions it may affect you legal liability and insurance claims... and/or what might happen to you and yours, and other people on the road.

I generally change to winter tires in October and/or according to conditions.

11

Similar for us. We change to winter ones no later than the first weekend in November, but keep an eye on the weather forecast in case we need to do it a bit earlier. Usually change back to summers the first weekend in April, but again depends on the weather.

12
Lotta peeps panic when they see one snowflake and overload their tire service, so I find it better to be a bit ahead of the game

13
So, with four cars, one has winters year round, one has summers year round, and the other two get swapped when the snow arrives, otherwise late November if no snow.

Of the two that get swapped, only one has to be done by a garage (as I don't have two sets for it, unlike most of my motorcycles).

Tom

14
Which is weird because in those conditions winter tires are not really good

As I have a regular date in the mountains every November, I always put then on the week before I go there.

As OP mentioned Italy, why not adapt to their rules (or what ever of the countries mentioned has the strictest) ?

15
Is that an attempt at satire?

16
Italy, and only in some areas, requires winter tires (or chains on board, or 4wd) if, and only if, there is snow/ice on the road, and only from 15 Nov. to 15 Apr..

Tom

17
Nope. Think logically and you might get it. Not surprised if you don't though.

18
Correct.

More funny that you only need the M+S marking and not the Mountain and Snowflake symbol which has at least some bearing regarding suitability in the snow

http://www.goodyear.eu/corporate_eme...ecognition.jsp

19
After reading everyone's response - here is what I understand:::

* There is NO specific date that winter tires need to be on my car in any of the countries mentioned

* I see no reason to be concerned about driving on road tires in October

-- Of course the weather is the weather and I should be aware of it.

-- However the weather typically doesn't get to be winter tire weather in October.

Here was my original question::::

This is my first full winter in Switzerland,

Is there a specific date that I need to have my winter tires on my car?

How about for:

- Germany

- Austria

- Italy

- France

- Slovenia

I'm going to be doing a driving trip throughout October (haven't determined all the details or all the countries visited yet) so I want to be prepared.

The current road tires I have on the car are new as of August, so I'm not to worried about the tread. But I want to know if there is any legal date I must change my tires to their winter counterparts.

OH - my car is a 4x4 (subaru) if that makes a difference

20
You should put winter tires when the temperature is below 7 Celsius. Below this temperature summer tires become hard and won't grip. By the way, the difference between a winter tire and the so-called "all-season" tire is massive. I personally have witnessed a 4x4 small SUV with all-seasons stuck in a hill while a rear-wheel drive BMW equipped with winters had not problem whatsoever.

There is no difference whatsoever in braking if the car is 4x4, FWD, or RWD, so if you care about your safety, use winter tires in the winter.