Austria’s winter tyre rule returns on November 1

Austria’s situational winter tyre requirement runs from November 1 to April 15, and drivers must fit winter tyres on at least one driven axle when roads are snowy, slushy or icy, ORF reported. Drivers are also being urged to check tyre condition and have wheel bolts tightened after a change.

The legal minimum tread depth is four millimetres. The ÖAMTC says drivers can make a rough check with a two-euro coin: if the coin’s silver rim disappears into the tread, the tyres have at least four millimetres of depth.

Winter tyres should carry the Alpine symbol, a snowflake against a three-peaked mountain. The M+S marking is also relevant, but the Alpine symbol is particularly important, the report said. Workshops commonly check tyre pressure and top up windscreen washer fluid during a change.

Driving without suitable tyres can lead to a fine. If an accident injures someone, the driver could also face criminal responsibility, while comprehensive insurance may limit or refuse cover. A tyre that pierced a Salzburg man’s windscreen in an accident overnight on Thursday highlighted the importance of checking wheel bolts after a change.

The ÖAMTC carried out about 570 wheel changes in Salzburg over the previous week, including 120 at its Salzburg-South service centre.