Can winter tires stay on the bike in summer?
Created: 04/06/2022, 08:50
By: Janine Napirca
Person with orange gloves changes car tires © Fleig / Eibner-Pressefoto/Imago
You can find out here which rules are legally binding in relation to winter tires and summer tires.
The rule of thumb when changing car tires is
"from O to O", i.e. from Easter to October
- during this time drivers use
summer tires
.
However, this regulation is not legally binding.
Unlike in other European countries,
winter tires are only compulsory in Germany “weather-related”
.
That means there is no exact date when you need to change your car tires.
Is your car ready for spring?*
Then you have to drive with winter tires on the car
Since there is no time-related winter tire obligation in Germany, but driving with winter tires depends on the
weather
, you must be aware of these events if you want to drive as a driver on the road:
black ice
slippery snow
Black ice
frost
slush
If one or more of these weather phenomena occur, you may only drive with winter tires
– for your own
safety and that of other road users.
Read here why the note under the windshield wiper is not enough if you have damaged another car.
What are the consequences of driving with summer tires in winter?
Fine
: 60 euros
+ 20 euros if you break down and obstruct traffic
If you endanger others
: 100 euros, 1 point in Flensburg, 75 euros for the vehicle owner
Under certain circumstances, you can have insurance problems if you have an accident caused by missing winter tyres.
Even if you have
fully comprehensive insurance
, you can be left at your own expense if you don't have winter tires in the right weather conditions.
Read here how much fuel you can take with you in petrol cans.
Legally prescribed minimum tread depth for car tires in summer and winter
Even though the legal requirement for a tire tread depth is only 1.6 millimeters, the ADAC recommends at least 4 millimeters for safety reasons.
You should also replace your car tires after about six years.
Can winter tires stay on the car wheel in summer?
Driving with winter tires
in summer is not forbidden, but
it
is not recommended.
According to an ADAC test, winter tires cannot keep up with summer tires in summer temperatures and road conditions.
Because the
braking distance
is significantly longer with winter tires than with summer tires when the temperatures are high.
(jn) *tz.de is an offer from
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