Made in October 2026. Each country’s rule was read from its own law or transport authority on 24–25 Oct 2026; every source is linked in the full table: https://copilot.travel/maps/winter-tyres

A few things that surprised me:

  • Estonia requires winter tyres 1 Dec–1 Mar whatever the weather; Finland 1 Nov–31 Mar only when conditions require.

  • Germany only accepts tyres with the snowflake (3PMSF) mark in wintry conditions; old M+S-only tyres no longer count.

  • Caravans need winter tyres too in Finland, Sweden, Estonia and Lithuania; in Germany, Austria and France the rule only covers the towing car.

  • bstix@feddit.dkEnglish
    3·
    4 days ago

    Denmark doesn’t have a separate law about winter tyres, because it’s already covered by the overall traffic law, which only states that the driver is responsible for not using obviously unsuitable tyres.

    In practice, this is the same as in Germany. In snow conditions the tyres must have the “snowflake in a mountain” marker, or the police can write a fine.

    The reason for not making a more specific law is that some people prefer to drive summer tyres all year round and just not drive on the few days when there’s snow.

    • boonhet@lemmy.zipEnglish
      3·
      4 days ago

      Summer tires lose grip in cold temperatures even without snow so if you get negative temperatures, driving on summer tires is pretty irresponsible even without snow. Technicallh the crossover temperature for when winter tires start having more grip is above freezing but nobody really cares yet at like 8C

      • SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.caEnglish
        3·
        4 days ago

        Idiots call winter tires “snow tires”. It’s about the temperature.

        Ontario refuses to enact a winter tires law despite 6 different coroner’s inquest concluding winter tires would have saved lives. But, we also don’t safety inspect vehicles. Wheels fall off every day.

    • Heikki@sopuli.xyzOPEnglish
      2·
      4 days ago

      Thanks, that matches what we found. The map shows Denmark as “no winter-tyre law”, with the note that since 1 July 2025 “obviously unsuitable” tyres for the conditions can be fined (Færdselsstyrelsen, linked in the table).

      One small difference from Germany: the Danish authority says M+S tyres count as approved winter tyres and only recommends the snowflake mark for hard winter driving, so it isn’t required the way it is in Germany.