Vorarlberg’s situational winter tyre rule starts Sunday

Drivers in Vorarlberg must use winter tyres when roads are snowy, slushy or icy from Sunday, November 1, through April 15, ORF reports. The requirement depends on road conditions, not the calendar date.

When winter conditions apply, winter tyres must be fitted on all wheels and have at least four millimetres of tread. The minimum is five millimetres for diagonal tyres. Tyres marked M+S, M.S. or M&S, as well as those bearing the Alpine symbol, meet the requirements. All-season tyres qualify if they carry one of these markings.

Chains are a limited alternative

Summer tyres fitted with snow chains are allowed only when the road is covered continuously or almost continuously with snow or ice. Chains must be fitted to at least two drive wheels, and drivers should not exceed 50 km/h. Experts say chains on summer tyres are not a full substitute for winter tyres.

Authorities can also impose temporary chain requirements or weather-related driving bans by road sign. In Vorarlberg, these measures mainly affect routes into mountain regions.

Fines can reach 10,000 euros

Drivers caught using summer tyres in snow or ice can receive a warning, a 35-euro on-the-spot fine or a formal report. The average fine is about 100 euros, according to the ÖAMTC motoring association and the Kuratorium für Verkehrssicherheit. If other road users are put at risk, the penalty can theoretically reach 10,000 euros.

Police can take a vehicle off the road and may confiscate the keys if a driver insists on continuing without the required equipment. After a crash, drivers may face shared liability and a claim for reimbursement from their liability insurer. Comprehensive insurance payments may also be reduced.

The ÖAMTC advises checking tyres before fitting them. Experts recommend starting the season with five to six millimetres of tread, depending on expected mileage, so the legal minimum is not exceeded before winter ends. In a club test, tyres with four millimetres of tread displaced up to 25 percent less water, particularly on wet roads.

Rules vary across borders

Switzerland and Liechtenstein have no legal winter tyre requirement, but vehicles must remain roadworthy. Drivers involved in a crash while using summer tyres may face fines and liability consequences. Germany has a situational requirement like Austria. In Italy, rules are set by province; on the Brenner motorway A22 in South Tyrol, winter equipment is required from November 15 to April 15 regardless of the weather.

Heavy goods vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tonnes must have winter tyres on at least one drive axle from November 1 to April 15. Buses must do so until March 15. Both must also carry snow chains, and the minimum tread depth is five millimetres. Mopeds, motor scooters and motorcycles are exempt. Studded tyres are allowed from October 1 to May 31, with speed limits of 80 km/h outside built-up areas and 100 km/h on motorways.