After some harsh winters it’s no wonder an increasing number of UK motorists are investing in winter tyres. But as such a new and constantly-developing technology, it is not always easy to keep track on how winter tyres work and how their use is governed by the law.

Here are some common questions:

Is it illegal to use winter tyres in the summer?

The answer to this question depends on the tyres. While originally winter tyres could only be used safely in colder months, newer tyre technologies have been developed which can be used all year round. A good deal of all-year-round tyres offer a performance comparable to winter-specific tyres during colder months. This fact is not commonly known as some manufacturers want motorists to purchase both summer (or all-year-round) and winter tyres.

Are winter tyres a legal requirement in some European countries?

Many of our annual and short term European breakdown cover customers may have this question. There are a number of EU states in which winter tyres are mandatory:

Austria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania, Slovenia and Sweden. In most of these countries, ‘winter’ occurs between November and mid-April.

In Andorra, Italy and Switzerland, tyres are recommended but not mandatory.

How much do winter tyres cost?

Winter tyres can be expensive, sometimes up to £500 a set. For what is usually only a few weeks of snowy or icy weather, this can seem too much to a lot of drivers. But it should be noted that they can help cut accidents in wet and cold conditions too – and if you have a set on, you are less likely to have that scary sense of losing control of your car over ice or snow.

Questions about winter tyres? Let us know below