The cold seasons have started in Germany. That means there are more possibilities to see the frost or icy roads. So it is better to use the winter tire.
Month to change winter tire
There are no months specifically defined as per law. But in general, it is advisable to adopt the “von O bis O” rule, which means winter tires could be used from October till Easter (generally April).
7 degree rule
It is also advisable to use winter tires when the temperature is less than 7 degrees.
How to find the winter tires?
The winter tires contain the symbol of a snowflake inside the mountain.
Snow chains
It is mandatory to use snow chains in some hill regions. So, if you plan for any trips during winter make sure that you have checked the requirements.
What happens if you don’t use winter tire?
If you don’t use the winter tires on the roads with frost, ice, or snow, there are possibilities to get skid. In case of any accidents, the person whose car is not having a winter tire will face some vehicle liability insurance-related issues. Using the summer tire in winter may also lead to a fine and also points in Flensburg. Check the current rules on the official website.
Note: I’m not an insurance consultant. Kindly check the details of your insurance provider.
All season tires
Tires with M + S (mud and snow) marking that were produced before January 1st, 2018 can be used as winter tires until 30 September 2024. Tires manufactured from 2018 must have the snowflake symbol in order to be considered as winter tires under traffic law. If you buy new tires, make sure that it has the snowflake symbol and also pay attention to the date of manufacturing.
How to find the manufacturing date?
You can easily find the manufacturing date. It will be a 4 digit number. The first 2 digits mention the manufactured calendar week and the last 2 digits mention the manufactured year.
What else is important?
Regardless of the winter or summer season or tires, the tires should have a minimum tread depth of 1.6 mm.
Changing winter tire
You can change tires by yourself or let the car mechanics do it. It is important to tight the wheels once you have changed the tires and driven for approximately 50 kilometers. If you let the car mechanics do it, it may cost approximately 20 to 30 euros.
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