the expert warns
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Tread depth for winter tires: This fine can be imposed if the minimum depth is ignored
At the latest when the temperature is below 7 degrees, it is time to switch to winter tires. (icon image)
Photo: dpa-tmn / Andrea Warnecke
When should winter tires be fitted? How deep should the tire tread be? Drivers have to follow many rules. Otherwise, it can be expensive and dangerous, experts warn.
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This year the summer ended abruptly. After weeks of drought and several extreme heat waves, temperatures suddenly plummeted. According to some weather forecasts, it won’t be long before the first frosts occur. At that point, at the latest, slippery roads will become a problem for drivers again. But experts advise not to wait and act quickly now.
Is there a general obligation to have winter tires from October?
Traffic prevention experts at the Rhineland-Palatinate State Criminal Police Office (LKA) advise all drivers to fit winter tires immediately. Although winter tires are only required on all four wheels on ice, slippery roads or snow, waiting too long can have fatal consequences.
So there is no question of a general obligation to have winter tires. The much-cited rule of thumb, according to which drivers must fit winter tires from October to Easter (O to W), is also not legally binding.
Tread depth: what are the requirements for a winter tire?
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The legislator writes one Minimum tread depth of 1.6mm Before. However, LKA traffic expert Volker Weicherding recommends replacing winter tires earlier, so as to be as safe as possible on the road. “Four millimeters are needed, otherwise the winter properties of the tires are significantly reduced,” says Weicherding.
The durability of these special tires is also important. “Due to the fatigue of the material and the hardening of the rubber compound, it is recommended not to use winter tires for more than six years.” This ensures the necessary grip on the road surface. And this is all the more important when the road is icy or snowy.
Minimum tire tread depth – what is the risk of breaking the rules?
It is not only vehicle owners who are held responsible if they drive with worn tires. If you don’t own the car you are driving, you will also be penalized as a driver.
- Vehicle owner: Fine of 75 euros and a point in Flensburg.
- Driver: Fine of 60 euros and a point in Flensburg.
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The tread depth of at least 1.6mm required by law applies to both summer and winter tires. However, a slightly lower recommended tread depth of three millimeters applies for summer tires.
Use a two-euro coin to check if the tread depth is still within the recommended range of over 4mm for winter tires. The coin edge length is exactly the recommended tread depth.
On the road with summer tires in autumn and winter, is there a risk of a fine?
There is therefore no binding obligation to purchase bicycles with winter tires. Neglecting the so-called situational obligation of winter tires, for example in slippery conditions, can be costly for the vehicle owner. Anyone who is then caught by police wearing summer tires faces a fine and a point in Flensburg.
- In general, a fine of 60 euros must be paid
- Up to 120 euros if there is an additional handicap or even a danger for other road users or if there is also an accident.
- In the event of an accident, the insurance coverage can also be affected.
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Accident on ice and snow without winter tires: does the insurance pay?
As a rule, the auto liability insurance of one person who caused the accident takes care of the damage caused by the other. But beware, if the cold snap was not a complete surprise and the driver acted negligently, the insurance company can claim up to 5,000 euros in recourse.
Even if you didn’t cause the crash, summer tires can become a problem. If it can be proven that nonexistent winter tires contributed to the accident, you will be held responsible. This means that the insurance company of the person who caused the accident will not fully reimburse the damage caused. If you or other passengers are injured, the wrong tires can mean that you cannot claim compensation for pain and suffering, loss of income or pension payments.
Attention, tires for all seasons or all seasons are not always allowed
If you want to save yourself the hassle of changing tires twice a year, you can use all-season or all-season tires, right? Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. First, all season tires must have the “M + S” symbol (mud and snow) or a three-pointed mountain pictogram with a snowflake. In this case, however, all-season tires are only allowed in slightly wintry road conditions.
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A notification: The validity of the old “M + S” identifier is gradually being phased out. From 30 September 2024, only all-season tires with the snowflake symbol are allowed.
“In extreme winter conditions such as heavy snow, drivers should leave their cars behind,” says Frank Mauelshagen, automotive expert at the ERGO insurance group. “Such tires are therefore only suitable for people who live in areas with little snow or who can sometimes do without their vehicle in very winter conditions,” says Mauelshagen.
Weicherding also points out that all-season tires do not offer the same level of safety as winter tires in difficult winter road conditions. “The priority is your safety and that of your passengers. And the consequences of a small “skid” can cost many times more than a set of winter tires, “says traffic expert Weicherding.
