Snow tires manatory from this year
 

After the constitutional court ruled it's not legal for the law to demand "suitable tires in winter conditions" all those fines for not having snow tires fitted are void.

Before winter starts this year, there will be a new law making snow tires mandatory during winter months. The details are not known so far.

As a result, all the rental cars you'll get this winter will come with snow tires, no need to ask for them. Will rental costs go up? Probably.

Maybe not so bad at all?

Will that apply to foreign cars too?
I can see it would lead to problems, not only for those of us in our own cars but for those who hire a car in another country and then visit Germany too.
My son visits Germany to see his in-laws, but doesn't have winter tyres. Are winter tyres the same as snow tyres anyway??

>foreign cars too?
Details are not known so far, snow/winter tires are those marked with "M+S". The funny thing is that they will be mandatory even when you NEVER drive in winter conditions.

If you need new tires, I'd buy them rather sooner than later. :-)

I have winter tyres on my car. They were put on again this week.
My husband doesn't have them for his company car, and nor does my son. I can see I shall be lending my car out if it does apply to foreigners too. :(

They did this in the province of Quebec two years ago. You must have winter tires (not 4 season) on your car between November 15 and March 15. Rental car companies have an extra fee for tires. I believe that cars registered outside of Quebec are exempt from these requirements (but am not 100% sure).

The first winter there was a HUGE scramble for tires before the deadline, and they were moving stock all the way from BC to try and fill the orders.

Yes, it will apply to foreigners, too. Wouldn't make sense otherwise, eh?

Well it would - you can't honestly expect everyone to fit winter tyres for a weekend in Germany. Or to have to pay extra for winter tyres on their hire car because they want to cross the border for a day?
It is a far more expensive rule than say reflective jackets or a fire-extinguisher in the car.

>>>you can't honestly expect everyone to fit winter tyres for a weekend in Germany.<<<

Sure you can, it has always been done in Finland (and I think in other northern countries too). No winter tyres, and your car stays at the border. Winter tyres are mandatory December-February, but in reality they are needed November-April. I would not even dream driving without them.

And when changing tyres becomes a routine it only takes 15 minutes.

Hetismij - sure you can expect that. It is a safety issue and that's the reason for introducing this law.

And if you want to spare the expense then travel by train.

<i>Details are not known so far, snow/winter tires are those marked with "M+S".</i>

M+S tires are standard on SUVs in the States. That's what my small vehicle came with and gets as replacements. But they are year-around tires (M stands for mud) and are not the same as true snow tires, at least not in the States.