RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- Germany’s Federal Government has recently reviewed and clarified the specifications of winter tires in interest of traffic safety, which resulted in a change of regulation that began on June 1, 2017.
According to Germany’s Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure’s website, tires with the “Alpine” symbol will be the only valid tires for future use during winter months. The alpine symbol looks like a mountain encasing a snowflake.
Since Dec. 3, 2010, a German federal law has been in effect that specifically mandates the use of winter tires when conditions are wintery and icy.
The new regulation has set in place a transition period allowing mud and snow tires (tires with the “M+S” symbol), that are manufactured before Dec. 31, 2017 only, to be used until Sept. 30, 2024.
Starting January, 2018, tire manufacturers are authorized to fabricate winter tires with the three peak mountain seal only. Other winter tires should not be sold in tire stores any longer, according to Polizeiinspektion Landstuhl.
Failure to follow the new regulation may result in a fine of up to 75 euros.
If involved in an accident or if stuck in traffic in icy conditions without winter the proper winter tires, the fine increases to €120 with -1-point from the driver’s license.
Vehicles such as motorized, or single-tracked have been excluded from the situational winter tire as there is no winter tire for these vehicles.