Country > Eurasian EU(1)
Minimum tread depth > 4 mm
Legislated use of tyres marked M+S or 3PMSF > No but 3PMSF becomes mandatory on steering and drive axles as
from 2023.
Use of chains > Allowed in winter conditions
Defined winter period > From 1 December to 28 February but every member country can define its own period.
Country > Slovakia
Minimum tread depth > 3 mm for drive axle, 1.6 mm for the others.
Legislated use of tyres marked M+S or 3PMSF > Yes. On drive axle.
Use of chains > Allowed in winter conditions. Mandatory when the signs indicate.
Defined winter period > From 15 November to 31 March
Country > Austria
Minimum tread depth > Radial: 5 mm / Diagonal: 6 mm
Legislated use of tyres marked M+S or 3PMSF > Yes, at least on a drive axle.
Use of chains > Mandatory when the signs indicate the need for chains.
Defined winter period > Trucks: 1 November to 15 April / Coaches: 1 November to 15 March
Country > Belgium
Minimum tread depth > 1.6 mm
Legislated use of tyres marked M+S or 3PMSF > No, but symmetrical mounting mandatory for M+S.
Use of chains > Allowed in winter conditions
Defined winter period >
Country > Bosnia & Herzegovina
Minimum tread depth > 4 mm
Legislated use of tyres marked M+S or 3PMSF > Yes, at least on a drive axle.
Use of chains > Mandatory if the casings currently on the vehicle are not M+S/3PMSF.
Defined winter period > 15 November - 15 April
Country > Bulgaria
Minimum tread depth > 1.6 mm for M+S/3PMSF tyres, 4 mm for the others.
Legislated use of tyres marked M+S or 3PMSF > No.
Use of chains > Mandatory if the casings currently on the vehicle are not M+S/3PMSF
Defined winter period > 15 November - 15 April
Country > Croatia
Minimum tread depth > 1.6 mm for M+S/3PMSF tyres, 4 mm for the others.
Legislated use of tyres marked M+S or 3PMSF > No.
Use of chains > Mandatory if the casings currently on the vehicle are not M+S/3PMSF
Defined winter period > 15 November - 15 April
Country > Czech Republic
Minimum tread depth > 6 mm on drive axle, 1.6 mm for the others.
Legislated use of tyres marked M+S or 3PMSF > Mandatory on drive axle.
Use of chains > Allowed and even mandatory when the signs indicate.
Defined winter period > From 1 November to 31 March, except for occasional local signs
Country > Denmark
Minimum tread depth > 1 mm
Legislated use of tyres marked M+S or 3PMSF > No.
Use of chains > Allowed in winter conditions
Defined winter period > From 1 November to 15 April. Studded tyres allowed
Country > Eurasian EU(1)
Minimum tread depth > 4 mm
Legislated use of tyres marked M+S or 3PMSF > No but 3PMSF becomes mandatory on steering and drive axles as from 2023.
Use of chains > Allowed in winter conditions
Defined winter period > From 1 December to 28 February but every member country can define its own period.
Country > Finland
Minimum tread depth > 5 mm for drive axle, 3 mm for the others.
Legislated use of tyres marked M+S or 3PMSF > M+S marking mandatory on all axles of the motor vehicle.
Use of chains > Allowed in winter conditions
Defined winter period > From 1 December to 28 February. Studded tyres allowed between 1 November and 31 March.
Country > France
Minimum tread depth > 1 mm
Legislated use of tyres marked M+S or 3PMSF > No.
From 11/2021, in mountainous regions for:
motor vehicle with trailer: chains mandatory (even if 3PMSF tyres on the vehicle).
Use of chains > Allowed and even mandatory when
the signs indicate. From 11/2021, it is mandatory in mountainous regions to have a pair of chains for road trains (tractor + semi-trailer, or truck + trailer) even if the vehicle is fitted with 3PMSF tyres.
Defined winter period > From 1 November to 31 March, except for occasional local signs.
Country > Germany
Minimum tread depth > 1.6 mm
Legislated use of tyres marked M+S or 3PMSF > 3PMSF mandatory in winter conditions on steering and drive axle. Tolerance up to 2024 for M+S tyres produced before 2018.
Use of chains > Allowed with speed limited to 50 km/h.
Defined winter period > None. The road condition (snow cover, ice) defines the period.
Country > Greece
Minimum tread depth > 2 mm for steering axle, 1.6 mm for other axles
Legislated use of tyres marked M+S or 3PMSF > No.
Use of chains > Allowed and even mandatory on 2 tyres of the drive axle when the signs indicate.
Defined winter period > None
Country > Hungary
Minimum tread depth > 1.6 mm for tyre diameter < 750 mm / 3 mm for tyre diameter > 750 mm
Legislated use of tyres marked M+S or 3PMSF > No.
Use of chains > Allowed and even mandatory on 2 tyres of the drive axle when the signs indicate.
Defined winter period > None
Country > Ireland
Minimum tread depth > 1.6 mm
Legislated use of tyres marked M+S or 3PMSF > No.
Use of chains > Allowed in winter conditions.
Defined winter period > None
Country > Italy
Minimum tread depth > 1.6 mm
Legislated use of tyres marked M+S or 3PMSF > On drive axle only.
Use of chains > Mandatory when the signs indicate unless the vehicle is fitted with M+S tyres.
Defined winter period > From 15/11 to 15/04
Country > Kosovo
Minimum tread depth > 4 mm
Legislated use of tyres marked M+S or 3PMSF > No.
Use of chains > Mandatory in winter conditions.
Defined winter period > None. The road condition (snow cover, ice) defines the period.
Country > Luxembourg
Minimum tread depth > 1.6 mm for trucks, 1 mm for trailer/ semi-trailers.
Legislated use of tyres marked M+S or 3PMSF > Yes. On drive axle.
Use of chains > Allowed in winter conditions.
Defined winter period > None. The road condition (snow cover, ice) defines the period
Country > Monténégro
Minimum tread depth > 4 mm
Legislated use of tyres marked M+S or 3PMSF > Yes. On drive axle
Use of chains > Allowed in winter conditions.
Defined winter period > From 15 November to 15 March
Country > North Macedonia
Minimum tread depth > 6 mm
Legislated use of tyres marked M+S or 3PMSF > Yes. On all axles.
Use of chains > Allowed in winter conditions.
Defined winter period > From 15 November to 15 March
Country > Norway
Minimum tread depth > 5 mm
Legislated use of tyres marked M+S or 3PMSF > 3PMSF mandatory on steering and drive axles and M+S on the other axles.
Use of chains > Mandatory during winter period.
Defined winter period > From 15 November to 15 March
Country > Netherlands
Minimum tread depth > 1.6 mm
Legislated use of tyres marked M+S or 3PMSF > No.
Use of chains > Not allowed
Defined winter period > None
Country > Poland
Minimum tread depth > 1.6 mm when transporting goods. / 3 mm when transporting persons.
Legislated use of tyres marked M+S or 3PMSF > No.
Use of chains > Mandatory when the signs indicate.
Defined winter period > Variable. The period is defined by the local authorities.
Country > Portugal
Minimum tread depth > 1 mm
Legislated use of tyres marked M+S or 3PMSF > No.
Use of chains > Mandatory when the signs indicate.
Defined winter period > None
Country > Romania
Minimum tread depth > 4 mm
Legislated use of tyres marked M+S or 3PMSF > Yes
Use of chains > Allowed on drive axle.
Defined winter period > From 1 November to 31 March
Country > Serbia
Minimum tread depth > 4 mm
Legislated use of tyres marked M+S or 3PMSF > Yes. On drive axle.
Use of chains > Mandatory if the casings currently on the vehicle are not M+S/3PMSF.
Defined winter period > From 1 November to 31 March
Country > Slovakia
Minimum tread depth > 3 mm for drive axle, 1.6 mm for the others.
Legislated use of tyres marked M+S or 3PMSF > Yes. On drive axle.
Use of chains > Allowed in winter conditions. Mandatory when the signs indicate.
Defined winter period > From 15 November to 31 March
Country > Slovenia
Minimum tread depth > 3 mm
Legislated use of tyres marked M+S or 3PMSF > Yes. On drive axle.
Use of chains > Allowed when no M+S/3PMSF tyres.
Defined winter period > From 15 November to 31 March
Country > Spain
Minimum tread depth > None. The main grooves must be visible.
Legislated use of tyres marked M+S or 3PMSF > No.
But since 2020, mandatory to have 3PMSF tyres on vehicles.
used to transport persons when the driving conditions are poor.
Use of chains > Mandatory when the signs indicate.
Defined winter period > None. But the local authorities can stop vehicles depending on the road conditions. See also (1)
Country > Sweden
Minimum tread depth > 5 mm for all axles of a motor vehicle, 1.6 mm on trailer/semi-trailer.
Legislated use of tyres marked M+S or 3PMSF > 3PMSF mandatory on steering and drive axles and M+S on the other axles
Use of chains > Allowed
Defined winter period > From 1 October to 15 April
Country > Switzerland
Minimum tread depth > 1.6 mm
Legislated use of tyres marked M+S or 3PMSF > No.
Use of chains > Mandatory when the signs indicate.
Defined winter period >
Country > Turkey
Minimum tread depth > 4 mm
Legislated use of tyres marked M+S or 3PMSF > Yes on drive axle.
Use of chains > Allowed
Defined winter period > From 1 December to 31 March
Country > Ukraine
Minimum tread depth > 1 mm for transporting goods, 2 mm for transporting persons.
Legislated use of tyres marked M+S or 3PMSF > No.
Use of chains > Allowed
Defined winter period >
Country > UK
Minimum tread depth > 1 mm
Legislated use of tyres marked M+S or 3PMSF > No.
Use of chains > Allowed
Defined winter period > None
Country > Other EU countries
Minimum tread depth > 1.6 mm
Legislated use of tyres marked M+S or 3PMSF > No.
Use of chains > Mandatory when the signs indicate.
Defined winter period > Variable. The period is defined by the local authorities.
Understanding the different winter markings:
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Kosovo
Luxembourg
Monténégro
North
Macedonia
Norway
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine
