When Germany requires winter tyres on passenger cars

Road conditions trigger the duty

Section 2 names five forms of snow or ice-related slipperiness. The duty follows those conditions throughout the year. A route that begins on a clear road can encounter slush or frost later, so the planned route matters as well as the road outside the starting point. Source 1

Check the symbol on every tyre

The ordinary passenger-car rule applies to every wheel. Section 36 defines winter tyres by their intended performance in snow and requires the Alpine mountain-and-snowflake symbol under UNECE Regulation No. 117. That marking is the relevant check when assessing an all-season tyre. Source 1 Source 2

Why older M+S markings can mislead

The transitional provision let some older M+S tyres meet the winter-road rule through 30 September 2024. That provision has ended. A tyre with only the old marking cannot use that transitional permission in current winter-road conditions. Source 2 Source 3

Vehicle class changes the answer

The law specifies different axle coverage for certain vehicle classes M2, M3, N2 and N3. It also lists exceptions including single-track motor vehicles and some specialised vehicles. The ordinary passenger-car check uses the all-wheels rule. Source 1

Sources

• Germany’s road traffic regulation, StVO section 2
• Germany’s road vehicle licensing regulation, StVZO section 36
• Germany’s StVO section 52 transitional provisions