European regulations for winter equipment on trucks

European regulations for
winter equipment on trucks and buses
Winter 2015/2016
Country
Tyre regulations
Snow chain regulations
Further information
Albania
No general winter tyre regulations.
Snow chains for drive axle must be carried in
Studded tyres prohibited.
road conditions.
Austria
Winter tyres compulsory from November 1 to April 15. Risk of driving ban
(35 up to 5,000€). Trucks > 3.5t GVW
must be equipped with M+S tyres on at
least one drive axle with a min. tread
depth of 6mm (bias) and 5mm (radial).
Winter tyres are compulsory for buses
(categories M2, M3) from November 1
to March 15.
Belgium
No general winter tyre regulations.
Snow chains must be carried in vehicle for at
least two drive axle tyres from November 1
to April 15. Exceptions for public service
buses apply.
Use on roads covered with snow and ice.
Studded tyres are prohibited for
vehicles > 3.5t GVW.
Snow chains only allowed on roads covered
with snow and/or ice.
Studded tyres prohibited.
and winter tyres.
BosniaHerzegovina
Winter tyres compulsory from
November 15 to April 15. M+S tyres are
compulsory on the drive axle of vehicles
> 3.5t GVW.
Snow chains must be carried in vehicle from
November 15 to April 15. Use on roads covered
with snow and ice. Fitting: at least 1 pair on drive
axle.
Snow shovel must be carried in
vehicle. Studded tyres prohibited.
Belarus
No general winter tyre regulations.
Snow chains only allowed on roads covered
with snow and ice.
Studded tyres allowed.
Bulgaria
No general winter tyre regulations.
Snow chains must be carried in vehicle from
November 1 to March 31.
Usage is compulsory on mountain passes
Studded tyres prohibited.
Without adequate winter equipment the entry into the country
may be refused or a driving
ban may be issued.
Croatia
No general winter tyre regulations.
In case of wintery road conditions
M+S tyres are compulsory.
Snow chains required for drive axle in
certain conditions. Snow chains compulsory
in Lika/Gorski Kotar region.
Studded tyres prohibited.
Commercially used vehicles
must carry a snow shovel.
Czech
Republic
Winter tyres compulsory from
November 1 to March 31 depending
on road conditions in winter. or in case
of sign „winter kit”. M+S tyres are compulsory on the drive axle of vehicles > 3.5t
GVW with min. 6mm tread depth.
Studded tyres prohibited.
at least 2 drive wheels of vehicles with 3 and
more axles.
European regulations for
winter equipment on trucks and buses
Winter 2015/2016
Country
Tyre regulations
Snow chain regulations
Further information
Denmark
No general winter tyre regulations.
Snow chains allowed from November 1
to April 15.
Studded tyres allowed from
November 1 to April 15. Studded
tyres should be mounted on all
tyres during this period.
Estonia
Winter tyres compulsory (radial tyres
with min. 3mm tread depth) from
December 1 to March 1 (also from
October to April depending on weather
conditions).
Snow chains only allowed on roads covered
with snow and ice.
Studded tyres are prohibited for
vehicles > 3.5t GVW.
Finland
Vehicles > 3.5t GVW with min. 1.6mm
tread depth.
Snow chains only allowed on roads
covered with snow and ice.
Studded tyres allowed from NovemDepending on the weather conditions this period may be extended.
Max. speed 80km/h for vehicles
> 3.5t GVW. Allowed are: Average
saliency max. 1.5mm and max. 50
studs per meter circumference in
tyres produced after July 1, 2013.
France
No general winter tyre regulations.
Use of snow chains when indicated
November 11 to last Sunday of
March, max. speed 90km/h. Vehicles
with studded tyres have to be labeled
with a sticker. Studded tyres are
prohibited for vehicles > 3.5t GVW.
signs.
Germany
Situational winter equipment
requirement: Vehicles < 3.5t GVW
must be equipped with winter/M+S
tyres on all wheels. Vehicles > 3.5t
GVW must be equipped with
winter/M+S tyres on the drive
Vehicles < 3.5t GVW: Studded tyres
tyres
signs. Studded tyres prohibited. Exception:
Route via “Kleines Deutsches Eck”.
tyres
for causing hazardous situation
tyres
for causing an accident due to
unsuitable tyres. Plus 1 point each.
(Flensburg Point System)
Great
Britain
No general winter tyre regulations.
Snow chains only allowed on roads covered
with snow and ice.
Studded tyres allowed as long as
the street surface doesn‘t get
damaged. Otherwise a regress
is possible.
Hungary
No general winter tyre regulations.
Snow chains only allowed on roads covered
with snow and ice. The application and entrainment of snow chains may be compulsory
due to special weather conditions (max speed
50km/h) . In wintry conditions the entry may
be rejected for foreign vehicles if no snow
chains are carried on board.
Studded tyres prohibited.
Ireland
No general winter tyre regulations.
Snow chains only allowed when roads
covered with snow and ice.
Studded tyres are allowed,
max. speed 96/112 km/h
(national road/motorway).
Italy
No general winter tyre regulations.
An anti-skid device (e.g. snow chains) must be
carried in vehicle.
Winter regulation prot. RU/1580
applies only to the following
vehicle categories: M1, N1
and O1.
Kosovo
No general winter tyre regulations.
Snow chains for drive axle must be carried in
Studded tyres prohibited. Buses
and trucks must carry a snow
shovel.
conditions.
European regulations for
winter equipment on trucks and buses
Winter 2015/2016
Country
Tyre regulations
Snow chain regulations
Further information
Latvia
Winter tyres (M+S) compulsory for
vehicles < 3.5t GVW from December 1
to March 1. Min. 3mm tread depth.
Snow chains only allowed on roads covered
with snow and ice.
Studded tyres allowed between
October 1 and April 30 for
vehicles > 3.5t GVW.
No general winter tyre regulations.
However, there are liability issues if
non-adequate tyres are used. Vehicle
equipment must match weather
conditions.
Snow chains allowed. Not necessary in val-
Vehicles > 7.5t GVW: Studded tyres
allowed from November 1 to April 30,
max. speed 80km/h. All tyres should
be equipped with studded tyres.
Vehicles with studded tyres have
to be labeled with a sticker.
Winter tyres compulsory for vehicles
< 3.5t GVW from November 1 and
April 1.
Snow chains only allowed on roads covered
with snow and ice.
Studded tyres allowed between
November 1 and April 1.
Luxembourg
All drive-axles on trucks and buses
need to be equipped with winter
tyres
conditions (snow, ice, glazed frost).
Snow chains only allowed on roads covered
with snow and ice.
Studded tyres prohibited.
Macedonia
Winter tyres compulsory on drive
axle from November 15 to March 15.
Min. 5mm tread depth.
Snow chains must be carried in vehicle from
October 15 to March 15 if vehicle has only
tyres
Coaches and heavy trucks must
carry snow shovels. Studded tyres
prohibited.
Montenegro
Tyres marked with M+S symbol or
winter winter tyres compulsory from
Snow chains only allowed on roads covered
with snow and ice.
Studded tyres prohibited.
Netherlands
No general winter tyre regulations.
Snow chains not allowed on public roads.
Studded tyres prohibited.
Norway
Vehicles > 3.5t GVW min. 5mm
tread depth compulsory between
Vehicles > 3.5t GVW are mandatory to carry
snow chains in the period when it is legal to
use studs.
Studded tyres (protrusion average
1.7mm) allowed from November
1 to the first Sunday after Easter.
In 'Nordland, Troms and Finnmark‘
from October 16 to April 30.
Trucks and trailers: studded tyres on
the same axle. If twinmounted 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 SMS (send
from a Norwegian, Swedish or
Danish telephone number). Monthly
and annual tickets for Trondheim
may be acquired at Trondheim City
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Monday after Easter (South Norway)
and between October 16 and
including April 30 (North Norway).
if snow chains are compulsory.
A truck with trailer must bring 7 chains.
Mandatory use of winter tyres on all
axle positions from November 15
to March 31.
tyres on www.stro.se
40, 7012 Trondheim. Daily
tickets cost about 3.90 Euro,
monthly tickets about 52 Euro und
annual tickets about 155 Euro (Costs
double for vehicles > 3.5t GVW).
Poland
No general winter tyre regulations.
Snow chains only allowed on roads covered
roads where snow chains are compulsory.
Studded tyres prohibited.
European regulations for
winter equipment on trucks and buses
Winter 2015/2016
Country
Tyre regulations
Snow chain regulations
Further information
Portugal
No general winter tyre regulations.
Snow chains temporarily compulsory when
Studded tyres prohibited.
highest areas).
Romania
In case of wintry road conditions M+S
or winter tyres are compulsory for the
drive axle of all vehicles > 3.5t GVW
and vehicles transporting people (with
more than 9 seats).
Vehicles > 3.5t GVW have to be equipped with
snow chains which need to be mounted when
Shovel and sand required for
vehicles > 3.5t GVW. Studded
tyres prohibited.
Russia
New Technical Regulation expected.
In months December, January,
February passenger, light truck,
trucks and buses must be equipped
on all axles with tyres marked M+S or
Snow chains are recommended but not
compulsory.
Use of studded tyres is forbidden
in the summer months (June,
July, August).
mum tread depth 4mm.
Serbia
No general winter tyre regulations for
trucks and buses.
Snow chains for drive axle must be carried
in the vehicle.
Studded tyres prohibited. Buses
and trucks must carry a snow
shovel.
Slovakia
Winter/M+S tyres compulsory for trucks
> 3.5t GVW from November 15 and
March 31 on drive axle (min. 3mm
tread depth).
Snow chains must be carried in vehicle.
Studded tyres prohibited.
Slovenia
Winter tyres compulsory at least on the
drive axle (min. 6mm tread depth) of
vehicles > 3.5t GVW from November 15
to March 15.
Snow chains must be carried in vehicles > 3.5t
tyres
Studded tyres prohibited.
Spain
No general winter tyre regulations.
Winter/M+S tyres compulsory when
authorities.
signs or the authorities. Snow chains only
permitted on roads covered with snow
and ice.
Usage of studded tyres with up
to 2mm studs are allowed on
snow-covered roads.
Sweden
In winter conditions, minimum tread
depth is 5mm on all tyres except trailer
tyres. M+S marked winter tyres are compulsory on the drive axle for vehicles >
3.5t GVW from December 1 to
March 31. For a list of approved winter
tyres for the drive axle please visit
www.stro.se.
Snow chains recommended to be carried in
the vehicle.
Studded tyres are allowed from
October 1 to April 15. Depending
on the weather conditions this period may be extended. Maximum of
50 studs per meter circumference
in tyres produced after July 1, 2013.
Please consider exceptions
Switzerland
No general winter tyre regulations,
regional regulations are possible in
wintery road conditions (e.g. alpine
pass-roads). Min tread depth for winter
tyres 1.6mm. In case of an accident
with standard tyres in wintry conditions, be aware of liability issues.
If authorities announce snow chain obligation,
only snow chains are permitted (four-wheel
drive vehicles may be excluded). Use of snow
chains in case of respective road signs and
conditions.
Studded tyres are permitted for
vehicles < 3.5t GVW between
November 1 and April 30 or on
snowcovered roads. Max. speed
80km/h. Studded tyres have to
be labled with a sticker 80km/h.
European regulations for
winter equipment on trucks and buses
Winter 2015/2016
Country
Tyre regulations
Snow chain regulations
Further information
Turkey
From December 1 to April 1 it is
compulsory for commercial vehicles to use winter tyres for intercity
usages. In cities, local authorities will
Snow chains recommended to be carried in
the vehicle and to be used on roads covered
with snow and ice.
Tow rope and chock should be
carried in the vehicle. Studded tyres
also can be used as a winter tyre.
Snow chains only allowed on roads covered
with snow and ice.
Studded tyres are allowed.
individually.
All types of trucks, tractors and buses
have to be equipped with tyres marked
with the M+S, the M+S and 3PMSF
symbol or with the 3PMSF symbol on
the drive axles. All types of vans, light
trucks, pickups and passenger cars
that are used for commercial purposes (Taxi, etc.) have to be equipped
with tyres marked with the M+S, the
M+S and 3PMSF symbol or with the
3PMSF symbol on all axles.
When using retreaded tyres, the tread
pattern has to be a winter tyre pattern.
Min. tread depth of commercial
vehicle tyres is 4mm.
Ukraine
No general winter tyre regulations.
Continental Reifen Deutschland GmbH
Büttnerstrasse 25
30165 Hannover
Germany
tyre rules.
www.continental-truck-tires.com
www.continental-corporation.com
Despite careful research, we cannot guarantee that the information is correct
and complete.
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
tyres
buses.
The development of the Continental Scandinavia winter tyres is based on many years of experience and practical knowledge
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