Winter tires, mandatory starting 1 November

Drivers and owners of transport companies have only two weeks left to change the summer tires with the winter ones, more expensive, but also more suitable for the cold season.

The ordinance which regulates this area and imposes these type of tires as mandatory between 1 November and 31 March leaves however enough room for discussion and interpretation and this because it is not too clear, for example, what happens to the so-called all season tires.

The General Director of the Romanian Road Authority, Florian Coman says that in Europe, the inscriptions MS, M+S, NMS, which mean for mud and snow, are universally accepted.
“If these M+S inscriptions are missing, the all season tires are not accepted”, Florian Coman adds.

He also stated that the number of winter tires depend on the car type.

”If we are referring to commercial vehicles for merchandise and persons, as defined by the law 109, then the equipment is mandatory on tensile axis. If we talk about the rest - trucks and cars – tires are mandatory on all wheels”, Florian Coman stated.

The ordinance regarding the winter tires applies on all public roads provided they are covered in snow, frost or ice.

The snow chains are approved equipment and can be used without any impediments, but if you are correctly equipped with winter tires, the chains are not mandatory.

Translated by: Manuela Stancu
MA Student, MTTLC, Bucharest University