Winter tyre laws in Switzerland
No legal winter tyre requirement. Winter tyres are only recommended.
Switzerland has no general legal obligation to use winter tyres, but vehicles must be fit for the conditions: drivers who obstruct traffic or cause an accident on summer tyres in wintry conditions can be fined.
- Rule
- Recommended only
- Period
- No fixed dates
Last verified 2 November 2026. Informational only, not legal advice. · Official source
From when do the winter tyre rules apply in Switzerland?
There are no fixed dates: what counts is the road and weather conditions. Switzerland has no general legal obligation to use winter tyres, but vehicles must be fit for the conditions: drivers who obstruct traffic or cause an accident on summer tyres in wintry conditions can be fined.
When should you change to winter tyres before driving in Switzerland?
Legal dates are a minimum, not the best date. Winter tyres grip better once the average temperature stays below about 7 °C, and before the first frost or snow. The calculator works out the best days for any town.
Whatever the law says, the temperature decides how well your tyres grip. Use the calculator for dates tailored to your town and driving profile. Calculator