Wettelijke voorschriften over het gebruik van winterbanden kunnen per land en zelfs per regio verschillen. Waar zijn winterbanden dan verplicht in Europa? En waar worden ze aanbevolen?
Winter tyre laws across Europe
Waar zijn winterbanden verplicht in Europa?
- Oostenrijk
- Wit-Rusland
- Bosnië-Herzegovina
- Tsjechië
- Estland
- Finland
- Duitsland
- IJsland
- Letland
- Litouwen
- Macedonië
- Moldavië
- Montenegro
- Rusland
- Servië
- Slovenië
- Zweden
Wettelijke voorschriften over het gebruik van winterbanden kunnen per land en zelfs per regio verschillen. Waar zijn winterbanden dan verplicht in Europa? En waar worden ze aanbevolen?
Neem in acht dat de wettelijke voorschriften op basis van lokale temperatuurwijzigingen kunnen worden bijgewerkt en aangepast. Het is dus raadzaam om ze nogmaals te controleren, voordat u in de winter naar het buitenland vertrekt. Zo krijgen grote delen van het Verenigd Koninkrijk slechts zelden te maken met langdurige periodes van extreme koude. Maar als het gebeurt, kiezen de meeste bestuurders ervoor om hun voertuig niet te gebruiken. Het zou dus economisch niet zinvol zijn om winterbanden te verplichten.
Europese wetten en voorschriften
| Legal requirement | Compliant dates | Details | |
| Albania | Winter tyres are not mandatory. | Between 1st November and 30th April it is compulsory to carry snow chains. | |
| Andorra | Winter tyres are not mandatory. | 1st November to 15th April | Minimum tread depth 4mm |
| Armenia | Winter tyres are not compulsory but tyres must be appropriate for winter conditions | ||
| Austria | Winter tyres are mandatory. Snow chains should be carried. | 1st November to 15th April | Minimum tread depth 4mm. Tyres must feature M&S symbol |
| Belarus | Winter tyres are mandatory. Snow chains are permitted. | 1st December to 1st March | |
| Belgium | Winter tyres are not mandatory. Snow chains are permitted. | ||
| Bosnia Herzegovina | Winter, all-season or snow chains are mandatory. Snow chains and a shovel must be carried. | 1st November to 15th April | |
| Bulgaria | Winter tyres are recommended. Snow chains should be carried | Snow chains must be carried between 1st November and 31st March | |
| Croatia | In sleet, snow and ice, at least two winter type tyres must fitted to the drive axle. Snow chains and a shovel must be carried. | Minimum tread depth is 4mm | |
| Cyprus | Winter tyres are recommended. | ||
| Czech Republic | Winter tyres are mandatory. Snow chains are mandatory where instructed. | 1st November to 1st April | Minimum tread depth is 4mm |
| Denmark | Winter or all-season tyres recommended. Snow chains are permitted. | ||
| Estonia | Winter tyres are mandatory. | 1st December to end February | Minimum tread depth is 3mm |
| Finland | Winter or all-season tyres are mandatory. Snow chains are permitted. | 1st December to end February | Tyres must feature M&S symbol. Minimum tread depth is 3mm |
| France | As a general rule, the fitting of winter tyres is not mandatory. However, in certain mountainous regions, winter tyres are necessary. Snow chains may be permitted as an alternative. | ||
| Germany | Regulations brought in in 2010 require all passenger cars and motorbikes to be fitted with winter tyres or all season tyres on all axles in wintry conditions. Snow chains should be carried. | ||
| Greece | Winter tyres are not compulsory but tyres must be appropriate for winter conditions. Snow chains are permitted. | ||
| Hungary | Winter tyres are not mandatory but you must carry snow chains with you in case driving conditions deteriorate. | ||
| Iceland | Winter or all-season tyres mandatory. | 1st November to 14th April | Dates do change so please double-check |
| Italy | Winter tyres are recommended but only compulsory on specific roads. You must carry snow chains in certain areas. | 15th October to 15th April. | In Val d’Aosta vehicles must be fitted with either winter tyres or snow chains |
| Latvia | Winter tyres are mandatory. | 1st December to 1st March | |
| Lithuania | Winter tyres are mandatory. | 1st November to 1st April | |
| Luxemburg | Winter tyres are not compulsory but tyres must be appropriate for winter conditions | ||
| Macedonia | Winter tyres are not mandatory. Snow chains must be carried. | 15th November to 15th March | Minimum tread depth is 5mm |
| Moldova | Winter tyres are mandatory. | 1st December to 1st March | |
| Montenegro | Winter tyres are mandatory. | 15th November to 31st March | |
| Norway | Winter tyres or snow chains must be used if snow or ice has covered the road but otherwise winter tyres are recommended but not mandatory. It is compulsory to carry snow chains | Minimum tread depth 3mm | |
| Poland | Winter tyres are recommended but are not compulsory | ||
| Portugal | Winter tyres are not compulsory but snow chains are mandatory where signage indicates. | ||
| Romania | Winter tyres are not compulsory but tyres must be appropriate for winter conditions | Minimum tread depth is 2mm | |
| Russia | Winter tyres are mandatory and snow chains must be carried. | ||
| Serbia | Winter tyres are mandatory. Snow chains must be carried. | 1st November to 1st April (although may be extended) | Minimum tread depth is 4mm |
| Slovakia | Winter tyres are not compulsory but tyres carrying the M&S symbol must be used when compacted snow or ice is on the road. | ||
| Slovenia | Winter tyres are mandatory. Snow chains and a shovel must be carried. | 15th November to 15th March | |
| Spain | The use of winter tyres in Spain is regional. Look out for traffic signs indicating that winter tyres or snow chains are compulsory in that area. | ||
| Sweden | Winter tyres are mandatory. Snow chains are recommended | 1st December to 31st March | Tyres must feature M&S symbol and have a minimum tread depth of 3mm. |
| Switzerland | Winter tyres are not compulsory across the whole country but tyres must be appropriate for winter conditions Look out for traffic signs indicating where winter tyres or snow chains are mandatory. | ||
| Turkey | Winter tyres are not mandatory. Snow chains must be carried in certain areas. | ||
| Ukraine | Winter tyres are not mandatory. | ||
| United Kingdom | Winter tyres are not mandatory but snow chains are permitted |