Tyres
Germany has a situational winter tyre requirement: in black ice, packed snow, slush, ice or frost, tyres carrying the Alpine symbol must be fitted. There is no fixed date — the rule of thumb „from October to Easter“ is custom, not law.
What matters is the mountain pictogram with the snowflake. The older M+S marking alone has not been sufficient since October 2024 — it could be applied without testing and accordingly says very little.
Anyone driving in wintry conditions without suitable tyres risks a fine, and more if others are obstructed. If it comes to an accident, shared liability can also arise, even if you did not cause the accident.
They carry the Alpine symbol and therefore meet the requirement. They are a compromise: weaker than a true winter tyre in winter, softer with a longer braking distance than a summer tyre in summer. For low-mileage drivers in the mild coastal climate that can work out; for high-mileage drivers rather less so.
1.6 millimetres is prescribed. For winter tyres experts recommend at least four millimetres, because below that the interlocking with snow drops off markedly — long before the legal limit is reached.
In brief
There is no fixed date. The requirement applies as soon as wintry conditions prevail — black ice, packed snow, slush, ice or frost.
No. Since October 2024 the Alpine symbol with mountain and snowflake is required.
Legally at least 1.6 millimetres, with at least four recommended. Below that, grip on snow falls off noticeably.
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