Winter tyres and snow chains in Central Europe: 2026–27 rules

Of these five countries, only Austria and Czechia set a winter-tyre season for cars in law, and even there the duty applies only in wintry conditions. Slovakia and Germany require winter tyres whenever the road is wintry, whatever the date. Hungary has no general rule but can order snow chains by sign. In all five countries, a chains-required sign applies even to cars already on winter tyres.

Each rule below links to the law text or official page it comes from; where a figure comes only from a motoring club, the text says so.

The rules at a glance

Austria: 1 November to 15 April, when the road is wintry

From 1 November to 15 April, drivers of cars and vans up to 3.5 t must use winter tyres when the road is covered in snow, slush or ice, according to the federal transport ministry.

Tyres count as winter tyres if they are marked M+S, M.S. or M&S or carry the snowflake symbol. The tread must be at least 4 mm on radial tyres and 5 mm on diagonal (cross-ply) tyres.

Snow chains on at least two drive wheels may replace winter tyres, but only when the road is completely or almost completely covered in snow or ice. The round blue sign 'Schneeketten vorgeschrieben' (StVO § 52) means every car on that road must have chains on at least two drive wheels.

The ministry gives a fine of €35, rising to as much as €5,000 if other road users are endangered. It also notes that after a crash on summer tyres in wintry conditions, the driver may have to prove it would have happened with winter equipment too.

Slovakia: any date, when there is snow, ice or frost

Slovakia has no calendar period for cars. Under § 38 of Act 8/2009, a car or light van may be driven on a road with a continuous layer of snow, ice or frost only if all its axles have tyres with the alpine symbol or marked M+S, M.S or M&S. The 15 November to 31 March period in the same section is for lorries and buses.

The same section adds a planning duty: if the time of year suggests there will be snow, ice or frost on your route, the car must meet that condition before you set off. Before driving, you must also remove any ice and snow that could come loose from the car or its load.

The vehicle operation decree 134/2018 sets the minimum depth of the main grooves at 3 mm whenever winter tyres are required. It bans studded tyres for all vehicles except rescue services and allows snow chains only on sections where the road is covered by enough snow or ice. Where the 'Snehové reťaze' sign 251 (Decree 30/2020) stands, chains are compulsory on the wheels of at least one drive axle. ÖAMTC gives fines from €50; Mapssy could not confirm that amount on an official Slovak page.

Czechia: 1 November to 31 March, and wherever the sign says so

Under § 40a of Act 361/2000, from 1 November to 31 March a vehicle up to 3.5 t needs winter tyres on all wheels when there is a continuous layer of snow, ice or frost on the road, or when the weather suggests there may be one during the journey. The tread must be at least 4 mm.

The 'Zimní výbava' (winter equipment) sign, C 15a in Decree 294/2015, means you may continue only if the car meets the legal winter requirements, whatever the date and whatever the current or forecast weather, unless a plate below it gives a different period. The 'Sněhové řetězy' sign, C 5a, requires chains on at least two drive wheels; only vehicles on studded tyres are exempt. With chains fitted, the Czech limit is 50 km/h.

ÖAMTC's summary mentions temperatures below 4 °C; the Czech law text does not. BESIP, the government road-safety service, lists M+S-type markings as legal and recommends tyres with the alpine symbol. ÖAMTC gives €60–100 for missing winter tyres; Mapssy could not confirm the fine on an official page.

Hungary: no general rule, but chains by sign

The traffic code (KRESZ, Decree 1/1975) contains no winter-tyre duty. The Interior Ministry's disaster management directorate confirms on an undated page that winter tyres are not compulsory and that studded tyres are banned on public roads.

The KRESZ does have a 'Hólánc használata kötelező' (snow chains compulsory) sign. Where it stands, cars must have chains on the tyres of at least one driven axle. If the sign is posted at a road border crossing, only vehicles carrying chains ready to fit may enter Hungary. Chains may be used only on snowy or icy roads, and the limit with chains is 50 km/h.

ÖAMTC says signs can also make winter tyres compulsory at short notice in wintry conditions; the KRESZ contains no such sign, so Mapssy could not confirm this officially.

Germany: alpine symbol only, whenever it is wintry

Germany has no calendar period either. Under § 2(3a) StVO, in black ice, snow, slush, ice or frost conditions a car may be driven only if all its wheels have tyres that meet § 36(4) StVZO: tyres with the alpine symbol, a three-peaked mountain with a snowflake.

Since 1 October 2024, M+S tyres without the alpine symbol no longer count, even if made before 2018 (ADAC). The general legal minimum tread is 1.6 mm.

The federal fines catalogue sets €60 for driving without suitable tyres in those conditions and €80 if others are obstructed; a vehicle holder who allows it faces €75. ADAC adds that the offence also brings one penalty point. Sign 268, 'Schneeketten vorgeschrieben', means the road may be driven only with chains (StVO Annex 2), and with chains fitted the limit is 50 km/h (§ 3(4) StVO).

What to check beyond the navigation app

A navigation app plans around traffic and road data. It does not know which tyres are on your car or whether chains are in the boot, and the first you may learn of a chains-required or 'Zimní výbava' section is the sign itself.

• Seasonal closures. Some alpine roads close for the winter: the Großglockner High Alpine Road opens only from early May to early November, with a night driving ban outside its opening hours. Check the operator's page before crossing a pass.
• Chains cost time. With chains the limit is 50 km/h in Czechia, Hungary and Germany, so 20 km takes about 24 minutes, and no arrival time includes the stop to fit them.
• Borders. Hungary's chain rule at signed crossings is separate from the police checks in Border checks in 2026.

Official road information, country by country

• Austria: ASFINAG traffic information covers congestion, accidents, roadworks and closures, with webcams and the Unterwegs app.
• Slovakia: the motorway operator NDS maps current restrictions on motorways and expressways, and its Pomoc na diaľnici app carries verified traffic reports.
• Czechia: the state portal dopravniinfo.gov.cz shows accidents, closures and restrictions.
• Hungary: Útinform is where the state road operator Magyar Közút sends drivers for current traffic.
• Germany: Die Autobahn GmbH publishes motorway traffic reports and runs the Autobahn app.

Before a winter drive

• Check the sidewall: the alpine symbol satisfies every marking rule here; M+S alone is not enough in Germany.
• Measure the tread: at least 4 mm meets every winter minimum here, except diagonal (cross-ply) tyres in Austria, which need 5 mm.
• If the route may cross a chain section, carry chains made for your tyre size and practise fitting them once.
• Clear off snow and ice that could come loose while you drive (required in Slovakia).
• Check the operator's page for closures, then compare live times with Mapssy. For tolls, see Motorway vignettes 2026.