Winter Tyres Germany Dates 2026: None, 3PMSF Only, €60 Fine

Germany has no winter tyre dates for 2026-27. Under StVO §2 Abs. 3a the rule depends on the road, not the month. As soon as there is ice, packed snow, slush or black ice, a car may only be driven if all four wheels have winter tyres (winter tires in US usage) carrying the 3PMSF Alpine symbol. M+S alone stopped counting on 1 October 2024. If you’re caught on summer tyres in those conditions, the driver pays EUR 60 and gets one licence point, or EUR 80 if traffic is obstructed. The vehicle’s owner pays a separate EUR 75. The legal minimum tread is 1.6 mm, 4.0 mm is recommended for winter, and studded tyres are banned on German roads.

Your case: Because the trigger is the weather and not the calendar, the decision is made on the morning you travel — Germany’s driving rules cover what else is checked at the same roadside stop, from the Umweltplakette to the mandatory kit.

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Tyre Law Summary for Germany

Winter Tyre Dates in Germany for 2026–27: There Are None

Germany sets no start or end date for the 2026-27 season. The duty applies whenever the road has black ice, packed snow, slush, frozen surfaces or hoar frost. That can be a single icy morning in October or April, while a dry, mild day in January doesn’t trigger it. “Von O bis O” (Oktober bis Ostern, October to Easter) is a German rule of thumb, not a law. The rule also applies mid-journey: if you set off on summer tyres and hit slush, you are breaking the law from that point.

• Renting a car for travel between November and March? Get written confirmation that it will have 3PMSF tyres before you collect it.
• Crossing into Austria? Its winter tyre rule is tied to dates. See the comparison below.

When Are Winter Tyres Required in Germany?

The law lists road conditions, not dates. Winter tyres are required in Glatteis, Schneeglätte, Schneematsch, Eisglätte or Reifglätte, which covers black ice, packed snow, slush, frozen surfaces and hoar frost. In those conditions all four wheels need tyres that meet §36 Abs. 4 StVZO. One winter tyre per axle, or winter tyres on the drive axle only, is not enough for a car.

Compliant tyres must carry the 3PMSF Alpine symbol (a three-peak mountain with a snowflake). Older M+S-only tyres made before 2018 used to count, but that transitional rule ended on 30 September 2024. A tyre marked both M+S and 3PMSF is fine.

Minimum Tread Depth in Germany

The legal minimum is 1.6 mm. It is measured in the main grooves across the central three-quarters of the tread, all the way around the tyre. Germany has no separate, higher legal minimum for winter tyres. The 1.6 mm limit applies all year.

For winter, 4.0 mm is the recommended replacement point. Below that, the grooves can’t clear enough slush and water, and grip on snow and wet roads drops off quickly. A tyre that is legal at 1.6 mm still meets the winter tyre rule on paper, but it does little in slush.

Long stretches of the Autobahn have no general speed limit; the advisory speed is 130 km/h (see the Autobahn speed limit answer). Braking energy rises with the square of speed, so worn tyres are far more dangerous on the motorway than in town.

Studded Tyres in Germany

Studded tyres are prohibited in Germany. §36 StVZO doesn’t allow tyre features that can damage a paved road, which rules out studs on normal cars. If you’re arriving from a country where studs are allowed, you need friction winter tyres with the 3PMSF symbol before you cross the border.

All-Season Tyres (Tires) in Germany: 3PMSF or Nothing

All-season tyres are legal in winter conditions only if they have the 3PMSF symbol. Older all-season tyres marked only M+S count as summer tyres once the road is icy or slushy. Check the sidewall, not the product name.

Penalties for Tyre Violations in Germany

The driver pays EUR 60 and gets one point for driving on unsuitable tyres in ice, snow or slush, or EUR 80 if traffic is obstructed. Fines are higher if you endanger others or cause a crash. The vehicle’s owner is fined a separate EUR 75 for ordering or allowing the trip.

Foreign-plated vehicles get no exemption. For EU-registered cars, the fine notice goes to the keeper’s home address under the EU cross-border directive, and a processing fee of EUR 25 may be added. On a hire car, the rental company passes the notice on to you. The guide on who pays driving fines abroad explains what happens next.

How Germany’s Tyre Laws Compare to Neighbours

Tyre requirements change at borders. Here is what to expect near Germany:

• France: Winter tyres situational (1 Nov - 31 Mar (mountain law, designated departments)). Tread: 1.6 mm. Studded: restricted.
• Austria: Winter tyres situational (1 Nov - 15 Apr). Tread: 4.0 mm. Studded: restricted.
• Switzerland: Winter tyres not required (No winter tyre obligation; only the general duty to keep the vehicle roadworthy). Tread: 1.6 mm. Studded: restricted.
• Netherlands: Winter tyres not required. Tread: 1.6 mm. Studded: prohibited.

Austria is stricter than Germany. A winter tyre worn to 2 mm is legal in Bavaria but falls short of Austria’s 4.0 mm requirement on the other side of the border.

For speed limits, traffic rules, and licence requirements in Germany, see our Driving in Germany guide.

Winter Tyres on a Hire Car in Germany: Driver Fine, Owner Fine, Insurance

A hire car in Germany falls under the same weather-based rule as your own car, and the fines are split. The driver pays EUR 60 and gets one point for using summer tyres in ice, snow or slush. The vehicle’s owner, which is the rental company, is fined EUR 75 for allowing it. That second fine gives rental firms a direct reason to fit winter or 3PMSF all-season tyres. Nothing obliges them to include winter equipment in the base price, though, so when you book for November to March, ask for 3PMSF tyres in writing and check the sidewall at collection. Snow chains are only compulsory where sign 268 shows them; the Europe car rental guide lists the other desk checks.

Insurance is the other reason to get this right. Compulsory third-party liability cover still pays the other party’s damage. After a crash on summer tyres in winter conditions, however, a comprehensive (Kasko) insurer can argue gross negligence and cut its payout. The guide to insurance for driving in Europe covers what a hire car excess policy does and doesn’t refund.