Guide

Winter tyres in Germany

By Covered Abroad Research Desk · Last verified July 2026

Germany's rule is situational, not calendar-based. Under § 2(3a) of the Road Traffic Regulations (StVO), in black ice, packed snow, slush, ice or frost a motor vehicle may only be driven if all wheels carry tyres meeting § 36(4) StVZO, which means tyres marked with the Alpine symbol. Buses and lorries need them at least on the driven and front steering axles. Motorcycles are exempt.

The rule

§ 2(3a) of the Straßenverkehrs-Ordnung states that the driver of a motor vehicle may drive it in Glatteis (black ice), Schneeglätte (packed snow), Schneematsch (slush), Eisglätte (ice) or Reifglätte (frost) only if all wheels are fitted with tyres that, besides the general tyre requirements, meet the requirements of § 36(4) of the Straßenverkehrs-Zulassungs-Ordnung. There is no date window: the duty applies whenever those conditions exist, in any month.

Source: gesetze-im-internet.de: § 2 StVO Straßenbenutzung durch Fahrzeuge, Absatz 3a, read 20 October 2026.

Which tyres count

§ 36(4) StVZO defines tyres for winter weather conditions as pneumatic tyres whose tread pattern, tread compound or construction improve driving performance on snow compared with normal tyres when starting, stabilising the vehicle and braking, and which are marked with the Alpine symbol (Bergpiktogramm mit Schneeflocke) under UNECE Regulation No. 117. An M+S marking alone is not mentioned in § 36(4); the regulation's M+S definition appears in § 36(11), which applies to class L vehicles such as motorcycles.

Source: gesetze-im-internet.de: § 36 StVZO Bereifung und Laufflächen, Absatz 4, read 20 October 2026.

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Exceptions and heavy vehicles

The rule does not apply to commercial agricultural and forestry vehicles, single-track motor vehicles, forklifts, motorised invalid carriages, emergency vehicles of the organisations named in § 35(1) where no such tyres exist for their design, and special vehicles for which no C1, C2 or C3 tyres exist. Vehicles of classes M2, M3, N2 and N3 (buses and lorries) may be driven in those conditions if at least the wheels of the permanently driven axles and the front steering axles carry qualifying tyres. Where a vehicle may lawfully be driven without them, the driver must check before each journey whether it is necessary because the destination cannot be reached by other means, keep a distance in metres of at least half the speedometer reading in km/h, and drive no faster than 50 km/h.

Source: gesetze-im-internet.de: § 2 StVO, Absatz 3a Sätze 2 bis 4, read 20 October 2026.

A regulation already published, BGBl. 2026 I Nr. 32, adds e-scooters (Elektrokleinstfahrzeuge) to this list of exempt vehicles from 1 March 2027; until then the six exemptions above are the text in force.

Source: Bundesgesetzblatt 2026 I Nr. 32: Verordnung zur Änderung der Elektrokleinstfahrzeuge-Verordnung und anderer straßenverkehrsrechtlicher Vorschriften, Artikel 4 and Artikel 5(2), read 22 October 2026.

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Common questions

Are winter tyres compulsory in Germany?

Only situationally: § 2(3a) StVO requires tyres meeting § 36(4) StVZO on all wheels whenever there is black ice, packed snow, slush, ice or frost. There are no fixed dates.

Do all-season tyres count as winter tyres in Germany?

A tyre counts if it carries the Alpine symbol (mountain pictogram with snowflake) under UNECE Regulation No. 117 and meets § 36(4) StVZO, whatever it is called.

Do motorcycles need winter tyres in Germany?

No. § 2(3a) StVO exempts single-track motor vehicles.

What applies to a lorry or bus without winter tyres?

Classes M2, M3, N2 and N3 may drive with qualifying tyres on the driven axles and front steering axles; where a vehicle is driven without them, the driver must check the journey is necessary, keep half the speedometer reading in metres as distance and stay under 50 km/h.

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