Ahead of the upcoming changeover window to winter tyres, Continental has compiled a summary of the winter tyre current regulations – including the most important changes – for truck and bus/coach drivers and fleet managers.
In the United Kingdom, Denmark, Italy and the Netherlands, for example, there remains no general obligation to fit winter tyres on commercial vehicles. By contrast, Germany, Austria and Spain have put specific regulations in place for the fitment of winter tyres. France has tightened up its winter equipment regulations for 2021, similar to Norway.
In some of Europe’s key transit countries – such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium and Poland – no changes have been made to the winter equipment requirements for trucks and buses compared to last year. In France, winter equipment is already mandatory on specially-marked roads. A new rule now explicitly refers to the 3PMSF marking instead of only to the M+S marking and affects passenger cars as well as commercial vehicles. From 1 November to 31 March, at the discretion of the individual départements (local councils) winter equipment stipulations apply on certain roads signalled by the road signs B26 [snow chains mandatory] and B58/B59 [winter tyres mandatory]. Trucks without trailers and buses must carry snow chains for fitment on at least two driven wheels or have at least two steered wheels for the main steering system and at least two driven wheels fitted with tyres in M+S and 3PMSF marking (until 01.11.2024 tyres with either M+S or 3PMSF specification are still accepted). Trucks with trailers must carry snow chains for fitment on at least two driven wheels.
Already since the 2020/2021 season, Norway has required winter tyres with the 3PMSF symbol for the drive axle and the front steer axle. Free-rolling axles must be fitted with tyres bearing the 3PMSF symbol or M+S marking.
In other news, Continental has rounded off its extensive range of winter tyres for commercial vehicles for the 2021/22 winter season with a 22.5-inch tyre. “We have developed the Scandinavia Generation 3 tyre line for a broad range of road surfaces and all weather conditions,” said Hinnerk Kaiser, head of tyre development at Continental.