Winter TyresBulgaria Winter Tyres 2026: 15 Nov–1 Mar or 4 mm of Tread
From 15 November to 1 March Bulgaria requires winter tyres, or any tyres with at least 4 mm of tread. The window is fixed by date, not by the weather.
From 15 November to 1 March, Bulgarian law requires winter tyres, or any tyres with at least 4 mm of tread. The window is set by the calendar, not by the weather on the day.
A date window with a tread alternative
Bulgaria’s winter rule is simpler than most, and more forgiving. Between 15 November and 1 March a car must be on either:
- tyres intended for winter conditions, or
- tyres of any kind with a tread depth of at least 4 mm.
That second option surprises many visitors: a summer tyre with deep tread is legal all winter, while a summer tyre worn below 4 mm is not. Outside the window the general 1.6 mm minimum applies.
Because the rule is date-based, a dry, sunny December day on the Black Sea coast does not suspend it.
Where winter is real
The rule covers the whole country, but winter itself is concentrated in the mountains: Rila, Pirin and the Rhodopes. The resort roads to Bansko, Borovets and Pamporovo climb quickly and can be snow-covered while the plains are dry. Carry chains if you are heading there, and fit proper winter tyres rather than relying on deep summer tread.
Verify tyre requirements for your destination
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Sources
- Ministry of Interior (MVR), Montana regional directorate: “От днес – 15 ноември до 1 март автомобилите трябва да се движат със зимни гуми” (winter tyres or tyres with at least 4 mm tread, 15 November to 1 March): https://www.mvr.bg/montana/
- Road Infrastructure Agency (API), statement on the 15 November to 1 March tyre rule: https://www.api.bg/
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
From 15 November to 1 March. During that window a car must run on tyres intended for winter conditions, or on tyres with a tread depth of at least 4 mm. The window is set by date, not by whether snow is on the road.
Only if every tyre still has at least 4 mm of tread. Below that, the tyres must be winter tyres. Outside the 15 November to 1 March window the general 1.6 mm minimum applies.
Carry them if you are heading into the mountains in winter. Roads to the ski resorts climb quickly and can be snow-covered while the plains are dry.