With legal stipulations governing winter equipment on trucks and buses differing across many European countries, Continental has released an updated country-by-country guide listing seasonal tyre regulations as required across Europe.

Ahead of the upcoming changeover window to winter tyres, Continental has compiled a summary of the winter tyre current regulations – including the most important changes – for truck and bus/coach drivers and fleet managers.

In the UK, Denmark, Italy and the Netherlands, for example, there remains no general obligation to fit winter tyres on commercial vehicles. By contrast, Germany, Austria and Spain have specific regulations in place for the fitment of winter tyres. France has tightened up their winter equipment regulations for 2021, similar to Norway.

Continental’s new Tackle Winter with Confidence guide explores the demands placed on tyres by wintry road conditions and provides tyre knowhow for the winter season.

Important changes

In some of Europe’s key transit countries – such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium and Poland – no changes have been made to the winter equipment requirements for trucks and buses compared to last year. In France, winter equipment is already mandatory on specially marked roads. A new rule now explicitly refers to the 3PMSF marking instead of only to the M+S marking and affects passenger cars as well as commercial vehicles. From 1.11-31.03. at the discretion of the individual ‘départements’ winter equipment stipulations apply on certain roads signalled by the road signs B26 [snow chains mandatory] and B58/B59 [winter tyres mandatory]:

Trucks without trailers and buses must carry snow chains for fitment on at least two driven wheels or have at least two steered wheels for the main steering system and at least two driven wheels fitted with tyres in M+S and 3PMSF marking. Trucks with trailers must carry snow chains for fitment on at least two driven wheels.

This regulation applies from November 1 until March 31 at the discretion of the local authorities.  Norway has required winter tyres with the 3PMSF symbol for the drive axle and the front steer axle since winter 2020/21. Free-rolling axles must be fitted with tyres bearing the 3PMSF symbol or M+S marking.

To view the guide, click here