Do I need winter tyres?

[4Lmike]

Im planning on driving to Dusseldorf for New Years Eve but am a bit cautious about the weather. What is it likely to be like around that time of year in that region? and is it a legal requirement to have winter tyres?

[chalky_white]

There can be snow around, however, the Autobahn's are normally cleared well. It's more the quiet roads that can get dodgy. There is no legal requirement for winter tyres.

1. i would not go with the expense of buying winter tyres for the sake of a Christmas visit, but if you are going to be in snowy regions enough I would certainly buy them

[zasker]

While I agree with Chalky that it is a waste of money for just one trip. It may also be the case that it is not a legal requirement (but this may have changed recently) however, if you are unlucky enough to be involved in an accident the police will take into account the fact that you didn't have winter tyres fitted and apportion blame accordingly.

[paul.deitch]

If the weather is bad you will, at the least regret not having them, and at the worst pay the price. Get a rental car with winter tyres is my advice.

[cptsideways]

If it is wintry you'll look a total plank without them!

[Benni]

paul.deitch said:

If the weather is bad you will, at the least regret not having them, and at the worst pay the price. Get a rental car with winter tyres is my advice.

Book that WAY in advance because they are still pretty rare.

[JMGS4]

The law at the moment states you must have appropriate tyres for the weather, this does NOT mean compulsary winter tyres BUT the law is at present in discussion and may well soon mean you will have to have winter tyres (or 4 seasons tyres)...
mind you, anyone driving on summer tyres in snow or slush or icy roads deserves to get binned............

[paul.deitch]

Benni said:

paul.deitch said:

If the weather is bad you will, at the least regret not having them, and at the worst pay the price. Get a rental car with winter tyres is my advice.

Book that WAY in advance because they are still pretty rare.

For the last 10 years in winter every German airport rental car agency I used asked me if I wanted one with Winterreifen. There is a small extra charge which if the weather is bad is well worth it. But you are right, it's best to book in advance to ensure.

[JMGS4]

Latest from my local rag: apparently the law change (if passed) will take effect on 26th November and states that winter tyres or 4-season tyres (those with the snowflake emblem) can only be used on snow, frost, ice, slush etc. Fine €40/Tyre (up 100% from before), no fine if you are parked with summer tyres, BUT fines doubled and possibly insurance invalid if you do drive and cause an accident = dangerous driving....
Wonder if it'll work????

[Utterpiffle]

Be interesting to see when that law is passed... However, my colleagues say that if you had an accident without winter tyres in the winter, your insurance may not be valid. Although I assume this would not apply for a UK registered car.

We had snow here in Düsseldorf last year constantly for over 2 months last winter, but it was never seriously deep. My colleague who commuted from Eindhoven never had a problem getting into work. They only plough the city streets here, not salt them, apart from maybe the main routes in. But people here just get on with it and drive accordingly, rather than becoming idiots like you mostly see in the UK!

Edited by Utterpiffle on Tuesday 23 November 14:03

[zasker]

Update on the law changes. Not sure how this will affect people who are travelling through though.

http://www.blackcircles.com/news/2010/nov/german-w...

Forgot to add this comes into effect tomorrow.

Edited by zasker on Tuesday 30th November 08:29

[JMGS4]

The law came into effect at 00.01hrs 29th November 2010 and applies to ALL road users in Germany (furriners are NOT excluded) and states when the road conditions are icy, frosty or snowy (including slush) you MUST have either 4 season tyres (with the snowflake mark) or proper winter tyres. If you're parked up you cannot be fined, but using the "wrong" tyres costs €40/tyre and a possible loss of insurance (and resulting criminal proceedings)if involved in an accident.
BTW the Police were out here on the A5 and A98 Autobahns monday morning fining people who got stuck with summer rubber!!!

[krallicious]

JMGS4 said:

The law came into effect at 00.01hrs 29th November 2010 and applies to ALL road users in Germany (furriners are NOT excluded) and states when the road conditions are icy, frosty or snowy (including slush) you MUST have either 4 season tyres (with the snowflake mark) or proper winter tyres. If you're parked up you cannot be fined, but using the "wrong" tyres costs €40/tyre and a possible loss of insurance (and resulting criminal proceedings)if involved in an accident.
BTW the Police were out here on the A5 and A98 Autobahns monday morning fining people who got stuck with summer rubber!!!

Good to know. I take it the conditions are very wintery around the German/Swiss boarder now? Hopefully a white Christmas in the Schwarzwald.

[JMGS4]

Yes, very wintery, most roads open, some with a snowfilm but some really treacherous with sheet ice uder the snow... see a few "offies" in the last 24 hours! High Black Forest has good snow and they're opening some of the lifts this weekend. langlauf pisten are already gespurt!

[krallicious]

JMGS4 said:

Yes, very wintery, most roads open, some with a snowfilm but some really treacherous with sheet ice uder the snow... see a few "offies" in the last 24 hours! High Black Forest has good snow and they're opening some of the lifts this weekend. langlauf pisten are already gespurt!

Thank you John. I am trying to work out if it would be worth driving through the Schwarzwald, as it is stunning with the snow, on my way back to the girlfriend's for Christmas. I'll maybe just stick to the A5.

Pete

[collos]

The new winter tyre law which came into effect on the 4th Dec as far as cars are concerned does include visiting people so beware it can be expensive.At the moment there are autobahns closed and travel throughout Germany is at crawl.

[anonymous-user]

I am driving to Frankfurt on wednesday and after reading this post I bought a set of winter tyres. So glad i I did, have been very impressed with them so far

[krallicious]

Mike S2K said:

I am driving to Frankfurt on wednesday and after reading this post I bought a set of winter tyres. So glad i I did, have been very impressed with them so far

Well there is 25cm of snow in the middle of the city so far and it is still snowing outside my window!

[collos]

I have lived in Dresden since the wall came down and have never seen it so bad.