Do all-season tyres count as winter tyres? Rules by country
In most European countries an all-season tyre counts as a winter tyre, as long as it carries the Alpine symbol. In Germany, France and Sweden that symbol is required: a tyre marked only M+S is no longer enough there. Austria, Italy, Czechia, Croatia and Luxembourg still accept M+S. You find the Alpine symbol on the sidewall: a mountain with three peaks and a snowflake inside, also called 3PMSF. It usually sits close to the letters M+S. Check the sidewall of your own tyres before you book the crossing. Below is the rule per country and where we found it.
Can you drive in Germany in winter on all-season tyres?
Yes, provided the tyre carries the Alpine symbol. Germany has no fixed winter tyre season. The duty applies whenever there is black ice, packed snow, slush, ice or frost on the road, and then to every wheel. German law defines a winter tyre as one bearing the Alpine symbol. According to the German motoring club ADAC, an all-season tyre with that symbol is legally a winter tyre.
A tyre marked only M+S no longer counts. Older M+S tyres were allowed until 30 September 2024, and that transition period has ended. The legal minimum tread depth stays at 1.6 mm, and ADAC advises 4 mm. The Dutch motoring club ANWB states that the duty also applies to Dutch cars and motorhomes. We found no official page that spells this out for UK-registered cars, and the exceptions listed in the law do not include foreign vehicles. More on driving there: tolls and low emission zones in Germany.
Do all-season tyres count as winter tyres in Austria?
Yes, provided they carry the right marking and have enough tread. From 1 November to 15 April a car or any vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes must have winter tyres on all wheels when there is snow, slush or ice on the road. According to the Austrian transport ministry, a tyre marked M+S, M.S. or M&S, or carrying the snowflake symbol, qualifies. So Austria is more lenient than Germany on the marking.
The part visitors tend to miss is the tread depth: at least 4 mm for radial tyres and 5 mm for cross-ply tyres. That applies to all-season tyres too. A tyre with less tread does not count as a winter tyre, whatever is printed on it. Snow chains on at least two driven wheels are accepted as an alternative, but only when the road is completely or almost completely covered in snow or ice. See also vignette and tolls in Austria.
Are winter tyres or all-season tyres compulsory in Switzerland?
No, Switzerland has no legal winter tyre requirement. Your vehicle does have to be safe to drive. The Swiss roads office ASTRA warns that driving on summer tyres in winter can lead to a fine, the loss of your licence or an insurer refusing liability.
According to the Swiss motoring club TCS, since 1 October 2024 only a tyre with the snowflake symbol officially counts as a winter tyre. A tyre marked only M+S falls under the rules for summer tyres. An all-season tyre with the Alpine symbol is therefore the safe choice. The legal minimum tread depth is 1.6 mm, and ASTRA advises 4 mm for winter. Snow chains can be made compulsory on specific stretches by a road sign, ADAC reports. More on the country: vignette and tolls in Switzerland.
Do all-season tyres satisfy the French mountain law (Loi Montagne)?
Yes, provided you have four tyres with the 3PMSF symbol. The French rule runs from 1 November to 31 March in designated communes in 34 mountain departments: the Alps, Corsica, the Massif Central, the Jura, the Pyrenees and the Vosges. Road signs mark where a zone starts and ends. Without a sign the rule cannot be enforced.
There are two ways to comply: four winter tyres, or snow chains or snow socks for at least two driven wheels carried in the vehicle. According to the French government, only 3PMSF tyres are treated as equal to chains. With any other tyre, including one marked only M+S, you must carry chains or socks. The rule covers cars, vans and motorhomes. The government page gives no minimum tread depth. Read on about tolls and Crit’Air in France.
Can you drive in Italy in winter on all-season tyres?
Yes, an all-season tyre counts as a winter tyre on roads where winter equipment is required. Italy has no nationwide duty. Road operators can order, road by road, that vehicles are fitted with winter tyres or carry snow chains. A directive from the Italian transport ministry sets the standard period at 15 November to 15 April, and lets operators choose different dates for high mountain roads. Signs reading “obbligo di pneumatici invernali o catene a bordo” show where it applies.
According to ADAC, tyres marked M+S, MS, M&S or with the Alpine symbol qualify. The Italian motoring club ACI writes that all-season tyres carry both markings. On summer tyres you may only drive these roads with approved chains or snow socks in the car. The directive recommends fitting winter tyres to all wheels. We could not confirm a minimum winter tread depth at the source. More on the country: tolls in Italy.
At a glance: winter tyre rules and all-season tyres by country
| Country | Requirement | Marking required | All-season tyre with Alpine symbol counts? | Minimum tread depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | In wintry conditions, no fixed period | Alpine symbol. M+S alone no longer counts | Yes | 1.6 mm (ADAC advises 4 mm) |
| Austria | 1 November to 15 April, in wintry conditions | M+S, M.S., M&S or snowflake symbol | Yes, with enough tread | 4 mm (radial), 5 mm (cross-ply) |
| Switzerland | No legal requirement | No requirement. According to TCS only the snowflake symbol counts as a winter tyre | Yes | 1.6 mm (ASTRA advises 4 mm) |
| France | 1 November to 31 March, in designated mountain zones | 3PMSF. With M+S alone you must carry chains or socks | Yes, on four wheels | Not confirmed at the source |
| Italy | Per road, shown by signs, usually 15 November to 15 April | M+S, MS, M&S or Alpine symbol (ADAC) | Yes | Not confirmed at the source |
| Czechia | 1 November to 31 March, when there is snow, ice or frost on the road or it can be expected. Always where the “Zimní výbava” sign stands | M+S is enough (ADAC) | Yes | 4 mm up to 3,500 kg, 6 mm above |
| Slovenia | 15 November to 15 March, and outside that period in wintry conditions | M+S (ADAC) | Yes, if it also shows M+S | 3 mm (ADAC) |
| Croatia | 15 November to 15 April, on designated winter sections | M+S, M.S., M&S or 3PMSF | Yes | ADAC gives 4 mm. The Croatian club HAK gives 4 mm only for summer tyres used with chains |
| Luxembourg | In wintry conditions, no fixed period | M.S., M+S, M&S or Alpine symbol | Yes | 1.6 mm (ADAC) |
| Belgium | No requirement | Not applicable | Not applicable | No winter rule |
| Netherlands | No requirement | Not applicable | Not applicable | No winter rule |
| Norway | You must have enough grip at all times. Summer tyres are not allowed on winter roads | The Norwegian roads authority names no marking for cars. ADAC: Alpine symbol or M+S | Yes (ADAC) | 3 mm from 1 November to the first Sunday after Easter Monday |
| Denmark | No fixed requirement. Since 1 July 2025 summer tyres are banned on ice, snow or slush | Tyre approved as a winter tyre: M+S, MS, M&S or 3PMSF | Yes | 1.6 mm (3 mm advised) |
| Sweden | 1 December to 31 March, in wintry conditions | Alpine symbol, or studded tyres | Yes | 3 mm |
Where the table says “ADAC”, the detail comes from the German motoring club and not from the government of the country itself. What else each country requires of you and your vehicle is listed in the overview of requirements on the road by country.
What does this mean for a caravan or motorhome?
- Germany: the duty does not apply to trailers and caravans, according to ADAC and ANWB. Both still advise suitable tyres on the caravan. A motorhome falls under the same duty as a car.
- Austria: trailers are not covered, according to ADAC. Lorries over 3.5 tonnes must have winter tyres from 1 November to 15 April whatever the weather, on at least one driven axle, and must carry chains. ADAC advises equipping a motorhome over 3.5 tonnes the same way.
- France: motorhomes are covered and have the same choice as cars: four winter tyres, or chains or socks for two driven wheels.
- Luxembourg: the rule applies to every driver, whatever the country of registration. On a motorhome over 3,500 kg it is enough for the wheels on all driven axles to have winter tyres.
- Sweden: the rules also apply to foreign-registered vehicles and to a trailer towed by a car. M+S tyres remain accepted on trailers up to 3.5 tonnes until 30 November 2028. Heavy vehicles over 3.5 tonnes need winter tyres from 10 November to 10 April regardless of road conditions. The Swedish government page does not say separately whether a motorhome over 3.5 tonnes falls under that.
- Norway: the caravan must meet the same tread depth as the towing car. Motorhomes between 3,500 and 7,500 kg are exempt from the winter tyre duty for heavy vehicles, but still need tyres suited to the road, with at least 3 mm of tread in the winter period.
- Croatia and Czechia: over 3.5 tonnes, Croatia accepts winter tyres or chains on the driven wheels. In Czechia the minimum tread depth above 3,500 kg is 6 mm.
For the other countries we could not confirm a separate rule for caravans or heavy motorhomes at the source.
What if you drive on summer tyres anyway?
- Germany: a 60 euro fine and one penalty point, 80 euros if you hold up other traffic (ADAC, 2026). After an accident a comprehensive insurer can cut its payout, and even when the accident was not your fault you may have to bear part of the damage.
- Austria: the amounts differ per source. The transport ministry gives 35 euros, and up to 5,000 euros if you endanger others. The Austrian motoring club ÖAMTC gives around 100 euros and in theory up to 10,000 euros. After an accident on summer tyres it is up to you to show it would have happened on winter tyres too. Otherwise you carry at least part of the blame.
- Switzerland: a fine or the loss of your licence is possible, and the insurer can refuse liability (ASTRA).
- France: ADAC gives a 135 euro fine and says you can be stopped from driving on. The French government page we consulted gives no amount.
- Italy: 87 to 344 euros (ACI, November 2025).
- Luxembourg: 74 euros (Guichet.lu).
- Czechia: up to 1,500 koruna on the spot, 2,000 to 5,000 koruna in proceedings. The police can forbid you to drive on.
- Croatia: 130 euros for the driver (HAK).
- Denmark: 1,000 Danish kroner per tyre if the police find your tyres clearly unsuitable for the conditions.
Sources: German law (StVO § 2 and StVZO § 36), ADAC on the German winter tyre duty, all-season tyres in winter and winter tyres abroad, ANWB on Germany, the Austrian ministry BMIMI and ÖAMTC, ASTRA and TCS, Service-Public.fr, the Italian transport ministry directive and ACI, the Czech police, HAK, Guichet.lu, Touring, the Dutch government, Statens vegvesen on tyre requirements and heavy vehicles, the Danish Road Safety Council and Transportstyrelsen. Checked on 10 November 2026.