Winter tyres

If you are travelling to or through Sweden with a vehicle such as a passenger car or heavy vehicle, you need to make sure that the tyres on your vehicle are right. During the winter, the following rules apply

Requirements regarding winter tyres December 1st to March 31st

During the period from 1 December to 31 March there are special requirements in Sweden on which type of tyre a certain vehicle is to have when there are winter conditions on the road. These requirements apply to both light and heavy vehicles, as well as to vehicles registered in Sweden and abroad.

The road conditions are considered to be wintry when there is snow, ice, slush or frost on any part of the road. The Swedish Police decide whether there are wintry conditions on a certain road.

Private cars and light vehicles

The requirement for winter tyres or equivalent equipment applies to private car class I, private car class II (camper), light truck, light bus with a maximum total weight of 3.5 metric tons, and trailers towed by these vehicles.

The tyres for these vehicles must

  • be marked with the "Alpine" symbol (3-peak-mountain with snowflake),  or
  • be studded.

Picture of the Alpine symbol, a 3-peak- mounain with snowflakeThe picture shows the symbol "Alpine"

Until November 30, 2024 are tyres especially manufactured for winter road conditions and marked with M+S, M-S, M.S., M&S, MS or Mud and Snow, are accepted for cars up to 3,5 metric tons.

These tyres can be used on trailers with a total weight up to 3,5 metric tons until November 30, 2028.

More information in table under related information.

If the car have studded tyres the towed trailer also needs to have studded tyres.

The depth of the tyre tread has to be at least 3 millimeters during wintry road conditions.

Vehicles with a total weight over 3,5 metric tons

Heavy trucks, heavy buses and private cars class II (campers) and trailers with a total weight of more than 3.5 metric tons, are to have winter tyres or equivalent equipment on the vehicle when there are wintry conditions on the roads during the period from 1 December to 31 March. This requirement applies to all tyres on the vehicle combination, including the trailer. The tyres for heavy vehicles must

  • be marked with the "Alpine" symbol (3-peak-mountain with snowflake), or
  • be marked with POR (Professional Off Road), or
  • be studded.

Picture of the Alpine symbol, a 3-peak- mounain with snowflakeThe picture shows the symbol "Alpine"

Until November 30, 2024 are tyres especially manufactured for winter road conditions and marked with M+S, M-S, M.S., M&S, MS or Mud and Snow, are accepted for cars over 3,5 metric tons. The drive wheel also have to be produced specifically for winter driving.

Tyres marked with M+S, M-S, M.S., M&S, MS or Mud and Snow are considerded as winter tyres, exept on the front axles and drive axles of the towing vehicle.

Equivalent equipment refers to, among other things, snow chains and sand spreader, should be considered as winter tyres.

The depth of the tyre tread of all tyres on heavy vehicles is to be at least 5 millimeters during wintry road conditions. The depth of the tyre tread for trailer is to be at least 1.6 millimeters.

More information in table under related information.

Exceptions from the requirements

A vehicle is allowed to drive in the following cases, if it could be operated without the risk of endangering the traffic security:

  • When test driving or towing a vehicle to reparation or similar purposes.
  • Driving the shortest and most suitable way to and from the closest motor vehicle inspection site.
  • Driving with a vehicle sales license (green registration sign) the shortest most suitable way from harbour, railway station, manufacturing plant, repair shop, storage premises or similar, to other similar premises or garages. With a vehicle sales license it is also allowed to drive the vehicle for demonstration or sales purposes.
  • If the tyres (according to the record in the Swedish road traffic registry) have a rim diameter of 10 inches or less.

Studded tyres allowed between October 1st to April 15th

It is allowed to use studded tyres between October 1st to April 15th. Studded tyres are allowed during other times if winter road conditions apply or are expected. If a vehicle with a maximum total weight of 3.5 metric tons has studded tyres, any trailer attached to the vehicle must also have studded tyres, if winter road conditions apply. If the passenger car has non-studded tyres, the trailer can have either studded or non-studded winter tyres. If a vehicle with a total weight of more than 3.5 metric tons has studded tyres and towing a trailer with a maximum total weight of 3.5 metric tons, than the trailer also must have studded tyres. If a vehicle with a total weight of more than 3.5 metric tons has studded tyres and towing a trailer of more than 3.5 metric tons it is a general advice that the trailer also should have studded tyres.

A mix of studded and non-studded tyres is not allowed on the vehicle.

The best tyres at the back

The tyres with the best pattern depth or the tyres that has the best grip on the road should be mounted at the back on the vehicle to decrease the risk of sliding when braking or taking corners. The tyres with the highest studs protrusion should be mounted at the back. This goes for both front wheel and rear wheel drive cars.

Storage of tyres

Store your tyres in a cold, dry and dark place.