Germany updates winter tire regulations and safety standards

New regulations and safety studies in Germany highlight critical requirements for winter tire usage. As of October 2024, tires must feature the Alpine symbol (Three Peak Mountain Snowflake or 3PMSF) to be legally recognized as winter tires during snowy or icy conditions. The previous M+S (Mud and Snow) marking alone is no longer sufficient for compliance, and drivers using only M+S tires in winter conditions risk fines and penalty points.

Complementing these regulatory changes, a study by the ADAC has examined the safety implications of tire tread depth. While German law permits the use of winter tires down to a tread depth of 1.6 mm, ADAC testing indicates significant performance degradation as tread wears down.

Research shows that while performance loss is manageable down to 4 mm, a sharp decline occurs between 4 mm and 2 mm. Specifically, aquaplaning resistance can drop by up to 25 percent, and braking performance on snow can decrease by 20 percent when tread reaches the 2 mm mark, significantly increasing the risk of losing vehicle control.