Tyre changes are required during winter because when temperatures fall, the tread on Summer or all-weather tyres starts to harden, reducing a tyre’s grip on icy or snowy roads, and increasing vehicle stopping distances. The law around using winter tyres in European countries varies depending on geographic location, but essentially countries that receive a lot of snow and ice, or contain high mountains, have stricter rules than those with warmer climates. It is recommended to always check the specific law wherever you are located, as in some instances winter tyre usage is linked to speed limits, in others snow chains may be required, while some countries in the EU such as Poland, the Netherlands, and Ireland have no winter tyre obligation, and the use of spiked tyres is illegal there.
Most European countries have some form of regulation or requirement to fit tyres marked M+S or with the 3PMSF (Three-Peak Mountain Snowflake) symbol during winter, alongside a minimum tread depth on all tyres. In Germany, from 1 October 2024, the M+S symbol is no longer sufficient to confirm a tyre’s winter capabilities, and all-season and winter tyres must have the 3PMSF symbol on the sidewall, with a 60 euro fine if your winter tyres don’t have this.
Winter tyres have greater tread depth that improves a tyre’s grip level on wet, icy and snow-covered roads, and provides shorter braking distances in these conditions. A 2014 report by the EU Commission found that passenger cars with tyres with a tread depth below the EU legal minimum of 1.6mm are significantly more involved in accidents on wet roads, with adequate tread depth reducing accident probability by 84%. Grip performance, handling, and the risk of tyre failures are also affected by tyre inflation, as over or under inflated tyres result in less rubber being in contact with the road, leading to increased tread wear and vehicle braking distances.
Alongside the use of winter tyres, Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS) play a vital role in ensuring tyre and vehicle safety in wet, icy, and snowy conditions. TPMS has been legally required on all new passenger vehicles in the EU since 2014, with this legal requirement extended to cover all new EU commercial vehicle registrations in categories M1, M2, M3, N1, N2, N3, O3, O4 from July 2024.
Using TPMS provides several directly measurable benefits including enhanced safety through real-time alerts about tyre pressure and temperature, improved vehicle handling and increased grip on the road, and cost savings through reduced fuel consumption and increased tyre lifespan. It is recommended that TPM systems, their sensors, valves and components are regularly checked, serviced, and replaced, whenever a tyre is changed on a vehicle, and the winter tyre changeover period is the perfect time for vehicle owners, fleet managers, and garages to do this.
From car owners looking to meet the legal requirements for winter tyres in their own country, to fleet managers seeking to optimise commercial vehicle maintenance processes to keep more trucks on the road, Hamaton has a range of TPMS products for all vehicle types including diagnostic tools, sensors, valves and consumables designed to fit seamlessly into existing changing and maintenance procedures. Our TPMS sensor range includes the EU-Pro Truck 1.0 for commercial vehicles, our innovative NFC sensors, programmable via a smartphone in just one tap with our dedicated app, our energy efficient aftermarket BLE sensors for Tesla vehicles, and cost-effective universal and OE-R aftermarket replacement sensors that cover most vehicles on the road.
Manufactured to the most exacting standards, Hamaton’s TPMS products are produced under controlled quality standards and are certified by TÜV SÜD for IATF 16949:2016 and ISO 9001:2015 to ensure product durability, lifespan, and quality. Find out more about Hamaton’s TPMS products by visiting our website which features a simple and easy to use B2B ordering platform, and Vehicle Look-Up tool which allows you to identify, select and order TPMS products for vehicles online 24/7 this winter tyre season.