Winter tyres and snow chains in Europe

No data in official sources.

Note: if you are driving into the mountains in winter, check the rules before you travel on the Albanian State Police website.

From 1 November to 15 April, when there is snow or ice on the road, a car up to 3.5 t must have winter tyres on all wheels. Snow chains on the drive wheels can replace them only when driving on snow.

Lorries over 3.5 t must have winter tyres for the whole period 1 November – 15 April, buses from 1 November to 1 March.

Winter tyres are not compulsory – official sources give no such requirement.

From 1 November to 1 April, winter equipment is compulsory regardless of the weather. In a car you can choose:

• winter tyres (M+S, Snow, Winter etc.) on all wheels
• winter tyres on the drive wheels + snow chains on at least two drive wheels
• summer tyres with a tread depth of at least 4 mm on all wheels + snow chains on at least two drive wheels

From 15 November to 1 March, tyres that are not winter tyres must have at least 4 mm of tread. In winter, follow signs requiring snow chains.

From 15 November to 15 April, on main roads – whatever the weather – a car up to 3.5 t must have winter tyres (M+S) on all wheels, or summer tyres with at least 4 mm of tread plus snow chains in the car, ready to fit on the drive wheels.

On other roads, winter tyres or snow chains are compulsory when there is snow or ice. Studded tyres are banned.

Winter tyres are not compulsory. In winter it can snow in the Troodos Mountains – check conditions before you set off.

From 1 November to 31 March you must have winter tyres when there is snow, ice or frost on the road – or when the weather suggests you will meet them on your route.

In winter it’s worth having snow chains for local mountain roads.

Winter tyres are not compulsory – official sources do not mention such a requirement. In winter, choose tyres that suit the weather.

Winter tyres are compulsory from 1 December to 1 March. Non-studded winter tyres must carry the mountain-and-snowflake symbol (3PMSF) – “M+S” alone is not enough.

Studded tyres are allowed in Estonia. In the transition periods (1 October – 30 November and 1 March – 30 April) you drive on summer or winter tyres, and from 1 May to 30 September – according to the Polish MFA – on summer tyres.

From 1 November to 31 March you must have winter tyres if the weather or road conditions require it. Studded tyres may be used in the same period, and outside it – when the weather justifies it.

From 1 November to 31 March, in 34 mountain departments (Alps, Massif Central, Jura, Pyrenees, Vosges) – in areas marked by signs – your car must have 4 winter tyres or carry snow chains or snow socks for at least 2 wheels. Only tyres with the snowflake symbol (3PMSF) count as winter tyres – with M+S tyres alone you must also carry chains.

The rule is “situational”: when there is snow, ice, black ice or slush on the road, you must have winter tyres. Without them you get a fine and you are liable for the damage in an accident.

Since 1 October 2024 only winter or all-season tyres with the Alpine symbol (a mountain with a snowflake) count. Tyres marked only “M+S” and made after 2017 are no longer enough (Bavarian Police).

Neither Your Europe nor the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs mentions any requirement for winter tyres or snow chains in Greece.

Note: in winter, conditions in the mountains can be difficult – follow the signs and announcements. Check the current rules before you travel on the Hellenic Police website.

Your Europe and the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs list no general winter tyre requirement. In winter, drive on winter tyres and follow the signs – e.g. an order to fit snow chains.

Winter tyres are not mandatory. Snow is rare, but in winter watch out for ice on rural roads.

According to Your Europe, winter tyres are compulsory in Italy. In practice, the requirement is set by road operators (e.g. the state-owned Anas) and local authorities: usually from 15 November to 15 April you must have winter tyres or carry snow chains in the car.

Watch the signs, especially on mountain roads.

Winter tyres are mandatory from 1 December to 1 March.

Official sources give no information on winter tyres being mandatory. The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Liechtenstein has the same road rules as Switzerland – there winter tyres are not mandatory, but you are liable for an accident on unsuitable tyres. Coming through Austria? There winter tyres are mandatory from 1 November to 15 April in snow or ice.

Winter tyres (or M+S) are mandatory from 10 November to 31 March.

Note: the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Odyseusz, 2026) says the requirement starts on 1 November – the safest option is to have winter tyres on from the start of November. Check before you travel at odyseusz.gov.pl (in Polish).

In winter conditions – black ice, packed snow, slush, ice or frost – you must have winter tyres marked M+S (M.S., M&S) or with the snowflake symbol (3PMSF). The requirement has no calendar dates – what counts is the weather. Without such tyres in winter you risk a fine and having your car immobilised.

You don’t need winter tyres or snow chains – Malta has no wintry road conditions.

Winter equipment is compulsory from 15 November to 31 March when there is snow, ice or black ice on the road. In a car you can choose:

• winter tyres (e.g. M+S) on all wheels
• winter tyres on the drive wheels + snow chains on at least two drive wheels
• summer tyres on all wheels + snow chains on at least two drive wheels

Tyre tread – at least 4 mm.

Note: these rules were set out by the Government of Montenegro in a 2019 notice – before a winter trip, check the current rules at gov.me.

Winter tyres are not mandatory – official sources give no such requirement.

From 15 November to 15 March, snow chains or winter tyres are part of the compulsory car equipment (Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs). Lorries must carry snow chains for the drive-axle wheels and a shovel.

In winter, winter tyres (studded or not) are compulsory in practice – your tyres and equipment must suit the conditions. In the north, winter starts as early as October and can last until May.

• Studded tyres: from 1 November until the first Monday after Easter Monday; in Nordland and in Troms and Finnmark from 16 October to 30 April.
• Winter tyres without studs – no time limits.
• In snow or ice you may need snow chains at any time of year.
• In Oslo and some other large cities you pay a separate charge for driving on studded tyres (piggdekkgebyr).

Without the right equipment, the police can stop you from driving the car until you fix it.

Winter tyres are not compulsory in Poland – but in winter they are common sense, and in many other countries on your route they are required.

You may only fit snow chains on roads covered with snow or ice. Sign C-18 means snow chains are mandatory.

Winter tyres are not compulsory.

Winter tyres are compulsory when the road is covered with snow or ice – whatever the date.

From 1 November to 1 April winter equipment is compulsory (notices from the Serbian Road Traffic Safety Agency). On mountain roads the state road operator recommends snow chains.

Note: check the details (under what conditions and which tyres or chains) before you travel at abs.gov.rs.

When there is compacted snow, ice or black ice on the road, you must have winter tyres marked M+S (M.S. or M&S). Cars up to 3.5 t – the same tyres on all axles, tread at least 3 mm.

Winter tyres are mandatory from 15 November to 15 March – and outside this period whenever there are winter conditions (snow, ice).

Winter tyres are not compulsory, but when driving on snow you must have snow chains (e.g. in the Pyrenees or Sierra Nevada).

From 1 December to 31 March, in winter conditions (snow, ice, slush or frost on the road) you must have winter tyres – the police decide whether winter conditions apply. Tread min. 3 mm. This also applies to cars registered abroad.

Studded tyres are allowed from 1 October to 15 April.

Switzerland has no legal requirement for winter tyres. But if you cause an accident on summer tyres, you may be liable for the damage, and your insurer may not cover all of it. Winter tyres are recommended from October to Easter.

For some mountain areas (e.g. around Davos) take snow chains in winter.

Winter tyres are not mandatory. In winter they are still worth considering in Scotland and in mountain areas.