Winter Driving in Austria

[Lutz]

For anyone contemplating touring Austria during the winter, a new law will come into force on the 1st January making winter tyres a legal requirement. The fines for not having them fitted can be quite substantial - between 36 and 5000 Euros, and can even involve the vehicle being impounded.

 

[Lutz]

ps: Winter is defined as the period from the 1st November to the 15th April.

 

[Chrissylizzie]

Thank you for this Lutz. Although we are not thinking of doing this this year, it is good to know such information for future reference.

 

[Guest]

I don't know about this being a new Law, it has been in force for a while now. I work for an Austrian Company and even in 2003 it was a requirement to change your tyres for winter ones. I could not really see the point as the winter tyres are not studded so the difference in tread pattern is quite small, but it looked good. The garages make money out of it so they are happy.

However, there is discretion if you stick to the motorways and the weather is fine.

 

[KeithJ]

............so can anybody explain how winter tyres are defined, please?

Keith

 

[Guest]

Mine are marked 'winter tyres' and I also gather the letters M&S define this as well. No, it is not the food shop either.

However, the tread paettern on mine are no difference to anything we use here in the UK all year round. Maybe it is the composition that makes the difference. I don't know, but I saw lots of piles of tyres wrapped up in the parking area for my car where my neighbours keep both lots.

 

[rob_jax]

Scotch Lad,

At the very simplest, the difference between winter and summer )or all-season) tyres is the tread composition - the compounds and extender oil mix used to make the tread. You can of course buy more agressive patterned tyres and tyres that can be fitted with studs.

Robert

 

[Guest]

Agreed, but as the majority of Austrians have the driving skills of a brick, I really cannot see the point. If they were yodelling up the Alps then of course good studded tyres are needed, but round Vienna?? Most of them drive like maniacs with a death wish.

 

[Lutz]

Studded tyres are illegal in most European countries, at least on dry road surfaces. As Robert pointed out, winter tyres do not necessarily have a different tread patterns. The difference is primarily in the rubber mix.

Winter tyres are not specifically required in Germany, but one can be fined if the tyre equipment is 'unsuitable for the conditions'. This is normally taken to mean tempratures below 7

 

[KeithJ]

Sorry to be thick, but how would a policeman know if I had suitable tyres? Would he simply look for the words "Winter Tyres" or "M&S" (Mud and Snow?) on the side walls.

I have a Kia Sorento, and the standard Khuma tyres are quite chunky and look to be suitable for most on road whether conditions - but how do I know if this is the case?

Keith

 

[Lutz]

In most cases, winter tyres carry an "M&S" or an "M+S" marking. However, not all M&S tyres qualify as true winter tyres. Therefore, to avoid confusion, the tyre manufacturers have starting adding a 'snowflake' symbol, as well.

Like I said, a tyre does not necessarily become a winter tyre simply by virtue of a 'chunky' appearance of the tread pattern. In fact, there is no need for a 'chunky' tread pattern in regions that have no or little snow but still need winter tyres because of low temperatures.

 

[KeithJ]

Thanks Lutz, I think I understand a bit better now.

Keith

 

[Guest]

It is all good fun for the tyre manufacturers, as they get to sell you 2 lots. Does absolutely nothing to improve road safety because they all drive at 150 km per hour regardless of the conditions, I know because they all pass me, when I am obeying the 100 km restriction as flagged by the road signs.

Also when was the last time you heard of an Austrian as world rally driver champion??

Basically it boils down the the fact the Austrians have an idendity crisis, and if they flag up some new rules, that others don't have, it makes them feel important. However, they are nice people, under the feathered hats.

 

[Lutz]

Apart from Austria, the following countries require winter tyres to be fitted, usually from the 1st November until the 1st or the 15th March:

Estonia

Finland

France (locally on some mountain passes, only where signposted)

Germany (winter tyres are not explictly required, but tyre equipment must be 'appropriate for the conditions'. This, basically, makes them mandatory)

Lithuania

Latvia

Norway (same as in Germany, winter tyres are not explictly required, but the law states that the tyres must have 'adequate grip'.)

Sweden

Switzerland (here again, winter tyres are not explictly required but failure to fit them will result in partial blame in case of an accident. In addition, snowchains may also be required locally on some mountain passes, as signposted)

 

[Guest]

My point exactly, countries with an identity crisis.

Most of us learned to drive according to the conditions and did not need the 'nanny' state to tell us what was common sense. When the road was icy and your tyres were not up to much, what did you do?? You slowed down and drove gently. Scottish roads were not often swept or salted, especially if you were off the beaten track. Now all that happens is the 'brainwashed' state I am on M&S tyres so that is all right. I can drive without due care and attention. I know, I watch them.

If I wish to drive up an Alpine pass in winter then yes, I would probably fit studded tyres. If I am driving round the ring road of Vienna, then I doubt it will make any diffrence what tyre I have, but it looks good to the bureaucrats. Remember, this is the same lot who put major intersections inside tunnels, with the turnoff leading away from the fast lane. Now is that not smart?

 

[Lutz]

I can't speak for countries 'with an identity crisis' but most people here had winter tyres well before they ever became a legal requirement. I certainly notice a big difference in stopping distance and cornering ability even on dry roads with winter tyres so I'm glad I've got them fitted (and we have next to no snow in our area).

 

[smiley]

Our car has low profile tyres, how does that effect us? Can you get winter low profiles?

 

[Lutz]

Yes, of course, you can get winter tyres in virtually every size that you can get normal summer tyres. The only problem that one may encounter is the speed rating. Few winter tyres have a higher speed rating than 'T' (170km/h = 105mph), but that's not going to be a problem when towing (at least, I hope it isn't).