Overview
- The requirement applies whenever ice, packed snow, slush or frost is present, and M+S‑only tires have not been permitted since October 2024.
- Base penalties are €60 plus one point, rising to €80 for obstruction and about €100–€120 for endangerment, and the rule also covers foreign‑registered vehicles.
- Vehicle owners can be fined €75 and receive one point if someone else operates their car without compliant tires during winter conditions.
- Many tires produced before January 2018 lack the mountain‑snowflake mark; check the DOT code, and remember all‑season tires must also bear the Alpine symbol.
- Rules differ across Europe—Germany, Luxembourg and Denmark use situational obligations, several states set seasonal windows, and minimum tread depths range from 1.6 mm in Germany to 4 mm in Austria and Czechia.