Winter TyresNorth Macedonia Winter Tyres 2026: 15 Nov Start, 4 mm
From 15 Nov to 15 Mar, cars in North Macedonia need winter tyres with 4 mm of tread, or 4 mm summer tyres plus chains. Over 3.5 t and 4x4: 6 mm. Studs banned.
From 15 November to 15 March, North Macedonia requires every vehicle on public roads to carry prescribed winter equipment. For a car up to 3,500 kg that is either winter tyres on all four wheels with at least 4 mm of tread, or summer tyres on all four wheels with at least 4 mm plus snow chains or equivalent equipment. Studded tyres are not allowed.
Dates first: mid-November, not mid-October
An earlier version of this page put the start on 15 October. The Ministry of Interior’s annual notice gives 15 November to 15 March, and that is the period enforced. It is a possession requirement tied to the calendar, so the equipment has to be in or on the car throughout, not only when it snows.
Equipment by vehicle type
| Vehicle | Option 1 | Option 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 3,500 kg | Winter tyres on all 4 wheels, min. 4 mm tread | Summer tyres on all 4 wheels, min. 4 mm, plus snow chains |
| Over 3,500 kg | Winter tyres on the drive wheels, min. 6 mm | Summer tyres, min. 4 mm, plus snow chains |
| Four-wheel drive | Winter tyres on all wheels, min. 6 mm | Summer tyres, min. 4 mm, plus snow chains |
The tread depth is measured across the tread’s width and around its circumference. A tyre counts as a winter tyre if it carries MS, M+S or M&S, or the three-peak mountain snowflake symbol.
Why the 4 mm matters for through-traffic
Many drivers cross North Macedonia on the A1 corridor between Serbia and Greece. Greece has no fixed winter-tyre season, so a car coming up from Thessaloniki in late November can be on summer tyres that are perfectly legal there and non-compliant from the Bogorodica border onwards. With summer tyres, chains in the boot are the minimum, and the 4 mm floor applies to those summer tyres too.
Sources
- Ministry of Interior of North Macedonia, Од 15 ноември задолжително поседување на зимска опрема (12 November 2025) — period, equipment by vehicle class, tread depths, markings, stud ban.
More on North Macedonia
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 15 March. The Ministry of Interior describes it as a mandatory possession period for all vehicles on public roads.
For a vehicle up to 3,500 kg: winter tyres on all four wheels with at least 4 mm of tread, or summer tyres on all four wheels with at least 4 mm of tread plus snow chains or equivalent equipment.
Yes. Above 3,500 kg, winter tyres on the drive wheels need 6 mm of tread, or summer tyres with 4 mm plus chains. Four-wheel-drive vehicles need 6 mm winter tyres on all wheels, or 4 mm summer tyres plus chains.
No. The Ministry of Interior states that studded tyres are not permitted in road traffic.