Do you have to have winter tyres to travel to Germany?

W

walkie

Member
During the winter months? I can't find anything definite, my parents seem to think it's a must (I am visiting them).

If you didn't have them is it the case of a slap on the wrist and a small fine or far worse?

If you do absolutely have to have them a could anyone point me in the cheapest direction for them (with alloys) It's a 61 plate e89 23i

Thanks!
 
Yes, from the AA site:

Winter tyres in Germany
The rules in Germany changed at the end of 2010 - regulations now require all passenger cars and motorbikes including vehicles from foreign countries to be fitted with winter tyres or all season tyres on all axles when conditions are wintery.

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/safety/winter-tyres-and-snow-chains.html

Do not risk to drive there without them, it has all sort of nasty impacts especially insurance point.
 
Nothing to do with me but all will fit your car bolt on & drive away :thumbsup:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-BMW-17-E60-E61-E39-5-6-Series-Alloy-Wheels-Dunlop-Winter-Tyres-/251763124363?pt=UK_CarParts_Acc_Wheels_tyres_Rims_Car_Wheels_ET&hash=item3a9e40688b

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-x-17-BMW-fit-Alutec-Alloy-Wheels-with-Dunlop-Winter-Tyres-/321613909957?pt=UK_CarParts_Acc_Wheels_tyres_Rims_Car_Wheels_ET&fits=Car+Make%3ABMW%7CModel%3A5+Series&hash=item4ae1aecfc5


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/17-BMW-E60-E61-5-series-black-alloy-wheels-dunlop-winter-2255017-tyres-genuine-/281508746677?pt=UK_CarParts_Acc_Wheels_tyres_Rims_Car_Wheels_ET&fits=Car+Make%3ABMW%7CModel%3A5+Series&hash=item418b3a95b5
 
Just to mentioned that 5 mm of tread on winter tyres pretty much means they are almost end of life.
 
pvr said:
Just to mentioned that 5 mm of tread on winter tyres pretty much means they are almost end of life.
Click to expand...

Always much discussion & debate on that point , http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=1320691

of course in a ideal world all our tyres whether summer or winter would be 8mm tread
Perhaps if you need to get around in deep snow the max tread would be needed but for 99% of UK winter drivers 5mm would be a far better bet than 8mm summers :wink:
Ive never struggled running winter tyres from 4-6mm for a fraction of the cost when new . Especially so as a UK winter as with last year never really happened :oops:
 
5 mm winters is indeed better than 8 mm summers, but the cost of changing tyres is high (£15 a corner or so), so you will have to replace them quicker than 8 mm winters. 4 mm is the minimum level for winter tyres so that £60 fitting charge comes around very quickly.
 
I live in Germany and the legal status is that you should have 'suitable ' tires for the road conditions. If your a tourist from the uk etc then you'll only have issues if you are involved in a crash or create a road hazard due to incorrect tires for the weather conditions at that time. There is a lot of hearsay in Germany as well where one will say from October until Easter, and another will say when it snows I'll fit them... As winter tires are quite poor in rain, and the thought is, as it's wetter rather than snowy ..

And I'll add at the moment I have summer tires fitted to my Z4 but winter tires fitted to my X3 ( for the wife)
 
Also interesting is that those that keep snow tyres on all year should look at the 20c temperature stats ...
 
pvr said:
Also interesting is that those that keep snow tyres on all year should look at the 20c temperature stats ...
Click to expand...

You used to get a sticker fitted to the dash limiting your speed due to de lamination danger when driving at high speed in warm weather. It was a Tüv failure if you didn't have one with winter tires fitted in the summer...
 
I bought winter tyres for the first time ever 3 years ago when visiting Germany. Didn't realise the regs had changed, so a lack of funds meant I bought a set of Falken Eurowinters. Loved those tyres, never had any issues at all with them. They lasted longer than I kept the car too.
 
Z4 with summers when I go to Germany in the summer _ Disco with winters at other times! :thumbsup:
A friend in Rheinland Pfalz uses his winters all year. I dont know what he does at Tuv time?
 
TUV is every other year though, so not much hassle to borrow wheels for that. Or perhaps his date is always in January :D
 
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