Winter tyres for German trip.

[turbodriver63]

I'm heading to Germany for a week in early December and would like to know if anyone has any experience in winter driving and the legal regulations they have in Germany.
I can't figure out if it's a legal requirement or if it's recommended that you buy winter tyres before traveling.
I'll be driving to bonn, pretty much parking up for 5 or 6 days and back to UK again.
I have 16x9" borbets with fairly stretched tyres on my avant. I also have a set of old standard steels in storage that if needs be I will buy cheap winter tyres for.
Anybody been over there in winter?

[quattrostyle]

I believe it's that when you end up being involved in a crash without winter tyres in Germany you are at fault most of the cases.

[Dybro]

I believe it's that when you end up being involved in a crash without winter tyres in Germany you are at fault most of the cases.

If you get pulled over by the cops and don't have the right tyres fitted(if the weather condition requires winter tires, of course) you can get a fine.

The tires must have the M+S and snowflake markings and the tread depth must be minimum 3mm in order to be legal winter tires in germany (winter tires is also mandatory in sweden, norway and propperley also finland - I don't know what their minimum requirements is but if someone knows then feel free to fill in the gaps

I have Continental 830P for my S4 and i'm happy with them besides that they are a bit too large, but that was my fault

[turbodriver63]

Thank you guys.
I don't want any hassle so I may as well start searching for some secondhands I think

[BosnianS2]

Law has changed in 2012. If police pulls you over you WILL NOT get fined for not having snow tires (M+S and snowflake on side of tire), BUT if there is snow or ice on road or you are involved in accident when snow or ice on road is then you will get fined.

[Dybro]

Law has changed in 2012. If police pulls you over you WILL NOT get fined for not having snow tires (M+S and snowflake on side of tire), BUT if there is snow or ice on road or you are involved in accident when snow or ice on road is then you will get fined.

I didn't knew that the law has been changed. Thanks buddy.

[Wrath]

Remeber that Winter tyres with spikes is illegal in Germany non-spike winter tyres only

[turbodriver63]

Thanks for the help
Had a chat with my local tyre shop, and he has plenty of secondhand tyres that he will do a deal on.

[urq20]

Current winter tyre info for Germany.........

http://www.wbs-law.de/eng/law-winter-tyres-germany-48118/

new winter tyre video uploaded last week......................

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enQIU3ywj6g

more winter tyre info on our website............. http://www.snowtyres.com.au/