Raising winter tires: when is mandatory?

In autumn, many drivers are unsettled and wonder when they will have to put on their winter tires. There is no specific regulation, but you can orient yourself on a few points. In this article, we will show you when you should start putting on the winter tires.

O-to-O rule: when to mount winter tires?

There is no fixed date for winter tires by which time you have mounted the tires at the latest. In Germany, the time is largely determined by the weather. So it is mandatory to mount the special tires in winter weather. These conditions are fulfilled, for example, when there is snow or black ice.

• If you fail to do your duty despite the winter weather, you can be fined in Germany. That is between 60 and 80 euros. They also occasionally get a point in the driving aptitude register. If you are unlucky, even your insurance coverage is not guaranteed if you "negligent" have not put on the winter tires.
• The so-called O-to-O rule offers you a good yardstick for when you should start fitting winter tires. It says that you should have put on the winter tires from October until after Easter. Since most winter weather conditions can be expected during this time, you can remember this rule of thumb.
• In the past, it was common to put on the winter tires as soon as the temperature fell below 7 degrees. However, this is out of date, because in theory the tires would then have to be exchanged for summer tires at over 7 degrees.

Mount winter tires: you should pay attention to this

If you put on the winter tires in autumn, you should do the conversion in good time. Especially if you are dependent on a workshop, you often have to set the date early. Keep in mind that many workshops are crowded before the onset of winter.

• Basically, you should always check the profile depth before opening. This must be at least 1.6 mm for winter tires. If not, you will need to buy new tires. You must also take this time into account when planning. By the way: The ADAC recommends a minimum profile of 4 mm for winter tires - below this, the winter properties of the tires decrease significantly.
• You should also note that you must change winter tires. With winter tires you are not allowed to drive on the road in winter conditions. Not only can this be expensive, it can also be dangerous.

Change tires yourself: Position the jack correctly

Buy winter tires cheap online

Important: winter tires should always have a sufficient tread depth. This is required by law and also advisable for security reasons. If your winter tires no longer have enough tread or are too old, it is best to buy new ones. This can be done online, for example, on the following pages:

• ReifenDirekt.de
• ATU
• Reifen.com
• Reifen-Pneus-online.de
• Tirendo

The ADAC has tested common winter tire models. A summary of the results and the current test winner can be found in the next article.

• Another article will tell you which downloads every driver really needs.

You can find detailed instructions on how to change car tires yourself in another article. We will also explain how to cut your windscreen wiper blades yourself.