Germany in December and winter tyres

[sidekickdmr]

Hey guys and girls, I'm off to Cologne for a long weekend in a couple of weeks, we will be driving.

I've tried to do some research online but the results differ majorly, so can you German folk tell me if I will "legally" need winter tyres on?

Thanks

[cptsideways]

Yes is the simple answer, the rule is "in wintry conditions" be that snow, ice or slush. But 90% of drivers have them out there.


If you have seen the forecast you won't be getting to Dover without them

[krallicious]

^^What he said really. If the roads are clear then summer tyres are fine but any hint of wintery conditions means winter tyres. The temperature will be dropping from tomorrow and snow is forcast for the end of the week.

[XplusYplusZ]

I've been in Germany for a couple of years now. The above info is correct. If it's icey, frosty, slushy or snowy, then you can be fined if you dont have winter tyres. 40 quid i think. If you get stuck on a road and hold up traffic, then that's another 40 quid on top.
It's also alleged that it voids german insurance, but i would question if that holds for UK insurance...

If you're only considering a single trip to germany, and you're only ducking an hour or so into the west of germany, then it might be worth taking the risk - an 80 quid fine is going to be less than a set of winter tyres.

BUT, of course, winter tyres are a good investment regardless of the law. they're more effective than warm weather tyres from temperatures below around 7 degrees C. You also have to consider that whilst you run your winter tyres, your summer rubber isn't getting used. So you can almost justify it by extending the lifetime of your summer tyres when driving's much more fun..

[sidekickdmr]

Thanks for the help guys, panic over!

Managed to get some good winter tyres for a good price and fitted them yesterday!

Excited about roadtrip now!

[TVR keith]

We have just been there for two nights, Monday - weds this week. Christmas markets excellent especially the one by the cathedral. Didn't have winter tyres and had no snow but looking today at webcams they have a fair bit.
Assume you are going from Calais sat nav goes via Gent Brussels Aachen, we went this way, traffic heavy but all moving, lots of HGV's. Came back via Namur & Lille, much less traffic.
Enjoy your trip