New regulation winter tires Switzerland

What is changing for M+S tires in Switzerland? Find out everything you need to know about the new regulations from October 2024 and the marking with the snowflake symbol. From October 1, 2024, there will be an important change in Switzerland: tires with the “M+S” (mud and snow) marking will no longer be considered winter tires if they do not also have the snowflake symbol. Anyone who continues to use such tires risks problems in winter road conditions.

What does the change mean?

Until now, tires with the M+S symbol were considered suitable for winter use. However, this marking is not standardized and says nothing about the actual performance of the tires in snow and ice. Therefore, only tires with the snowflake symbol are now permitted to be considered true winter tires. This symbol indicates that the tires have proven their suitability for winter conditions in special tests.

What can happen if I use old tires?

In Switzerland, there is no legal obligation to use winter tires in winter. Nevertheless, it can be expensive if you are driving on snow or ice with unsuitable tires. In the event of an accident, the insurance company could claim compensation if it is established that your vehicle was not fitted with safe tires. You could also be fined if you get stuck in the snow and block traffic because of the wrong tires.

What you should bear in mind with M+S symbol winter tires

Check your tires in good time. If they only have the M+S symbol and were produced before December 31, 2017, you should replace them. Only tires with the snowflake symbol are now approved as winter tires. Even if the legal minimum tread depth is 1.6 millimetres, it is recommended to have at least 4 millimetres of tread to be safe on winter roads.