Legality of Tyres in Germany

[morgrp]

Evening all,

Question that I was hoping someone could help me with,

Long story short, Don't want to fork out 500odd quid for a set of winter wheels and tyres for my new car, so for the ski trip this year have hired a car.

As we will be travelling through Germany I asked the hire company about winter tyres and they explained the car has "all season tyres" namely ones that work all year round, are these considered legal in Germany when they specify winter tyres? I realise we'll need chains too but I'll grab a set whilst i'm over there as they're only 40odd euros.

[TooMany2cvs]

You're hiring a car in Germany in the winter, and asking the hire company if it's got tyres which are winter-legal in Germany fitted?

[jagracer]

TooMany2cvs said:

You're hiring a car in Germany in the winter, and asking the hire company if it's got tyres which are winter-legal in Germany fitted?

Reading the post it appears he's hiring the car here so a valid question

[996TT02]

If you have it in writing (email) that the tyres are all season (and one of them perforce includes winter) then if you have any issues it's the hire company that is responsible. I would ask again and ensure.

Are you sure that BOTH winter tyres AND chains are mandatory, anyway?

Usually it's either (chains having to be carried onboard at all times if tyres are not winter)

[NormalWisdom]

As I understood it from working last year in Germany, Snow tyres only become necessary when you are involved in an accident (i.e. you will not be pulled for not having snow tyres but, if you are involved in an accident and the car does not have snow rated tyres, they will throw the book at you). All season will not cut it, they must be snow rated.

ETA - I was wrong, see here http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/safety/winter...

Edited by NormalWisdom on Saturday 10th January 09:17

[jayemm89]

NormalWisdom said:

As I understood it from working last year in Germany, Snow tyres only become necessary when you are involved in an accident (i.e. you will not be pulled for not having snow tyres but, if you are involved in an accident and the car does not have snow rated tyres, they will throw the book at you). All season will not cut it, they must be snow rated.

As this, the law over there stipulates they require winter wheels. I bought a set for my car years back when travelling through, seemed logical really as I imagined they would probably be quite vigilant against foreign cars in particular. Didn't fancy being pulled, fined then taken to an over-priced tyre shop.

Snow rating is required, all season is not good enough.

[996TT02]

Here it is, very clear:

https://www.wbs-law.de/eng/road-traffic-law-eng/la...

All season OK (Conditional)

Mandatory only dependent on weather.

Lots more info there.

Edited by 996TT02 on Saturday 10th January 09:20

[David87]

If the all-seasons are M+S-rated, then I believe they are accepted under the winter tyre rules.

[bga]

NormalWisdom said:

As I understood it from working last year in Germany, Snow tyres only become necessary when you are involved in an accident (i.e. you will not be pulled for not having snow tyres but, if you are involved in an accident and the car does not have snow rated tyres, they will throw the book at you). All season will not cut it, they must be snow rated.

That's how my German colleagues describe it. Insurance will not cover you if suitable tyres are not fitted.

[TooMany2cvs]

jagracer said:

TooMany2cvs said:

You're hiring a car in Germany in the winter, and asking the hire company if it's got tyres which are winter-legal in Germany fitted?

Reading the post it appears he's hiring the car here so a valid question

Perhaps. I assumed that, if he was hiring, it'd be fly-drive. First thing I'd be checking is if the hire company were happy for it to be driven half way across Europe, then...

But, no, a hire car in the UK won't have all-seasons on, it'll have normal summer tyres, which won't be winter-marked. It's just that the average numpty doesn't understand the difference and thinks that summer tyres are all-season, just because they happen to use 'em all year...

[terenceb]

And you can expect around €100 fine per tyre if you get stuck/go off the road and cause a traffic problem! I dont think a hire company would risk a vehical on unsuitable tyres that did not meet the -7degrees stipulated law.

[AER]

Just pull the hubcaps off before you leave Blighty. Noone will look at the tyres...

[Liokault]

TooMany2cvs said:

Perhaps. I assumed that, if he was hiring, it'd be fly-drive. First thing I'd be checking is if the hire company were happy for it to be driven half way across Europe, then...

But, no, a hire car in the UK won't have all-seasons on, it'll have normal summer tyres, which won't be winter-marked. It's just that the average numpty doesn't understand the difference and thinks that summer tyres are all-season, just because they happen to use 'em all year...

When I was working in Germany (must be two years ago now), you had to specify winter tyres if you wanted them and pay 7e per corner per day (If I remember correctly) for them. They were quite happy for you to drive off in the middle of winter on standard tyres.
This was generally from Europcar in Frankfurt and Dusseldorf airports.

[Dog Star]

jayemm89 said:

Snow rating is required, all season is not good enough.

Don't forget that there are "all-season" tyres that are fully snow rated (ie. with the mountain and snowflake symbol) and are OK to use where they are a requirement. Tyres such as Goodyear Vector, Vredestein Quatrac and Kleber Quadraxer for example.

[McSam]

David87 said:

If the all-seasons are M+S-rated, then I believe they are accepted under the winter tyre rules.

That's my understanding too. A tyre manufacturer can sell something as "winter", "all-season" or even "summer" as they please, but what matters for the law in Germany is whether they are Mud & Snow rated. You'll find the symbol on the sidewall if so.

[Sensibleboy]

Can you take hire cars out of the country?

[Hugo a Gogo]

all-seasons with M + S or the mountain/snowflake sign on are fine

I've never been checked, but if you have an accident or cause a delay you probably will, and will get fined per tyre (only if it is snowy or icy)

hire car companies may well ask you to pay extra in Germany, but you will probably end up with a car with all-seasons on, even if you don't pay

edit: of course you can take hire cars out of the country if the company know about it, you'll need the insurance green card

[annsxman]

Liokault said:

When I was working in Germany (must be two years ago now), you had to specify winter tyres if you wanted them and pay 7e per corner per day (If I remember correctly) for them. They were quite happy for you to drive off in the middle of winter on standard tyres.
This was generally from Europcar in Frankfurt and Dusseldorf airports.

Perhaps it is down to where you hire the car. I hired a car from Zurich Airport just before Xmas and it explicitly stated that the car was fitted with winter tyres. When I picked the car I checked and they were winter tyres. Certainly in Switzerland and I believe also in Southern Germany and Austria the authorities specify a date (usually early/mid November) and its mandatory for your car to be fitted with winter tyres from that date. Most people have a separate set of wheels with the winter tyres fitted and just swap them over.

[TooMany2cvs]

McSam said:

hat's my understanding too. A tyre manufacturer can sell something as "winter", "all-season" or even "summer" as they please, but what matters for the law in Germany is whether they are Mud & Snow rated. You'll find the symbol on the sidewall if so.

M+S rating just says that there's a minimum ratio of groove to block, and grooves clear across the tread. Plenty of cheap Chinese summer tyres are M+S rated. The relevant marking isn't M+S, but the winter mountain/snowflake symbol.

[McSam]

I thought they were one and the same, my apologies if not.