Winter TyresAustria Winter Tyres 2026: 1 Nov–15 Apr, Only When It Snows
Only when there's snow, slush or ice, from 1 November to 15 April. Winter tyres must keep 4 mm of tread (5 mm cross-ply); a fine starts at EUR 60.
From 1 November to 15 April, Austria requires winter equipment whenever there is snow, slush or ice on the road. On a dry day in that window, summer tyres are legal. Winter tyres count only with 4 mm of tread.
A calendar window with a weather trigger
Austria’s rule for cars and vans up to 3.5 t has two parts. The calendar says 1 November to 15 April. The trigger is wintry road conditions: snow, slush or ice. Only when both apply must the car be on winter tyres.
The alternative is snow chains on at least two driven wheels, but only when the road is covered by a more or less continuous layer of snow or ice. Chains on bare tarmac are not allowed. Where a “snow chains required” sign is posted, chains are compulsory regardless of tyres, four-wheel drive included.
Lorries over 3.5 t are different: they must be on winter tyres throughout the period, whatever the weather.
What counts as a winter tyre
A tyre qualifies if it is marked M+S, M.S. or M&S, or carries the snowflake symbol, and it must still have at least 4 mm of tread on a radial tyre or 5 mm on a cross-ply. The same thresholds apply to all-season and studded tyres. A winter tyre worn below that is treated as a summer tyre, legal down to 1.6 mm but not in wintry conditions.
Studs
Studded tyres are banned only in June, July, August and September. They are allowed on vehicles up to 3.5 t, must be fitted to all wheels that transmit force to the road, and the car needs the standard stud sticker at the rear, available from the ÖAMTC and ARBÖ clubs. Speed limits with studs are 100 km/h on motorways and 80 km/h on other roads outside built-up areas.
The cost of getting it wrong
The transport ministry puts the fine for driving without winter tyres in wintry conditions at at least EUR 60, and far more after an accident. It also warns that after a crash on summer tyres the burden of proof shifts: the driver has to show the tyres did not contribute.
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Sources
- oesterreich.gv.at, Winterreifenpflicht (1 November to 15 April, wintry conditions, chains, markings): https://www.oesterreich.gv.at/de/themen/mobilitaet/kfz/10/2/Seite.063100
- oesterreich.gv.at, Mindestprofiltiefe von Reifen (4 mm radial, 5 mm cross-ply; KDV § 4): https://www.oesterreich.gv.at/de/themen/mobilitaet/kfz/10/Seite.063320
- oesterreich.gv.at, Spikereifen (June to September ban, all wheels, sticker, 100/80 km/h; KDV §§ 4, 58): https://www.oesterreich.gv.at/de/themen/mobilitaet/kfz/10/2/Seite.060220
- Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure, Infothek: situational winter tyre rule and minimum EUR 60 fine: https://infothek.bmimi.gv.at/situative-winterreifenpflicht-gilt-ab-1-november-4/
Crossing more than one border this winter? See winter tyre rules, dates and legal tread minimums for every country →
Tyre details
- Winter tyre rated below your car's top speed? Read the speed letter — H, V, W and Y decoded, plus the sticker rule for lower-rated winter sets.
- Load index: will the tyre carry a loaded car? — The two- or three-digit number that caps weight per tyre.
- EU tyre label grades for wet grip and fuel use — What each letter and pictogram on the sticker actually measures.
- Tyre noise ratings in decibels — What the dB figure and the A, B or C class on the label mean inside the car.
- Starting tyre pressure for your size and load — A starting figure in bar and psi, then the door placard has the final word.
Full rules, fines & requirements
Winter tyres, tread depth & rules
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Related Questions
Between 1 November and 15 April, whenever there is snow, slush or ice on the road. On a dry, clear day in that window summer tyres are legal. As an alternative on a road with a continuous layer of snow or ice, chains may be fitted to at least two driven wheels.
At least 4 mm on radial tyres and 5 mm on cross-ply tyres, for cars and vans up to 3.5 t. The same applies to all-season tyres and studded tyres. A winter tyre below that counts only as a summer tyre, which has a 1.6 mm minimum.
Yes, except in June, July, August and September. Studs must be on every wheel, the car must carry the standard stud sticker at the rear, and the limits are 100 km/h on motorways and 80 km/h on other roads outside towns.
The transport ministry puts it at a minimum of EUR 60, and much more after an accident. If you crash on summer tyres in winter conditions, you may have to prove the tyres did not contribute.