Do trucks need winter tyres in Finland? Rules for 2026/27
Finland winter tyres truck rules: 5.0 mm tread on driven, non-steered axles, 3.0 mm elsewhere, 3PMSF, POR or studs, 1 November to 31 March.
Logifie Team
Logistics Technology Experts
Yes, when weather or road conditions require it, between 1 November and 31 March. Trucks and buses need winter tyres with at least 5.0 mm tread on driven axles that are not steered. Other axles and trailers need 3.0 mm. An M+S marking alone has not counted since 2024-12-01.
When must a truck have winter tyres in Finland?
The duty comes from section 105 of the Road Traffic Act (729/2018), which has applied since 2020-06-01 and is unchanged in the consolidated Finlex text dated 2026-04-17 . It is weather-based: from November to March, winter tyres are required whenever weather or road conditions call for them. The statute does not define the trigger, so in practice hauliers fit winter tyres from 1 November. The 2026/27 season starts on 2026-11-01.
Many pages still say December to February. That was a calendar rule from a government decree that took effect on 2017-01-02, and the current Act replaced it. The tread depths did not change. If your route continues into Sweden or Norway, separate rules apply, covered in our guides to Sweden truck winter tyres and Norway truck winter tyres and chains .
Which axles need winter tyres and how much tread?
Winter tyres with at least 5.0 mm of main groove depth are required on driven axles (axles that receive engine power), except driven axles that are also steered. The rule covers lorries and buses, as well as passenger or special cars above 3.5 t total mass and tractors with a construction speed above 60 km/h.
Every other axle on the truck, and every axle on a trailer or towed device, needs at least 3.0 mm of main groove depth. Section 105 sets no winter marking duty for those axles. On a typical 4x2 tractor unit the front axle is steered and not driven, so only the drive axle falls under the 5.0 mm winter-tyre rule. Check the tread on that axle before you cross the border.
Which tyres count as winter tyres on a truck?
Three types qualify under point 2.2 of Traficom regulation TRAFICOM/420043/03.04.03.00/2019 . The first is a tyre approved under UN regulation No. 117 or 109 and marked 3PMSF (the three-peak mountain snow flake symbol). The second is a studded tyre under section 106. The third is an off-road tyre approved under the same regulations and marked POR (Professional Off Road).
The M+S transition ended on 2024-11-30. A tyre carrying only an M+S marking no longer satisfies the duty on a truck's driven axles. The later date of 2029-11-30 applies only to light O2 trailers up to 3.5 t, not to trucks. For how other countries treat 3PMSF and chains, see our European winter tyre and snow chain overview .
Frequently asked questions
Do foreign-registered trucks need winter tyres in Finland?
Yes. Traficom states that foreign-registered vehicles must follow the same winter tyre rules in Finland, and section 105 has no exemption for foreign plates. The narrow exemptions cover short moves of up to 20 km linked to manufacture, import, sale, repair or inspection.
Are studded tyres allowed on a truck in Finland?
Yes. Section 106 allows studded tyres on trucks from the start of November to the end of March, and outside that period when weather or road conditions require. A studded tyre also counts as a winter tyre under the 5.0 mm rule for driven axles.
What is the fine for missing winter tyres on a truck?
A driver who intentionally or negligently fails to follow the tyre rules in sections 104 to 106 may receive a 100 EUR traffic violation fee (liikennevirhemaksu) under section 171 of the same Act.
Do trailers need winter tyres in Finland?
Section 105 sets only a 3.0 mm tread requirement for the axles of a trailer or towed device. The 5.0 mm winter-tyre duty applies to the driven axles of the truck itself.
Before you cross the border, check current diesel prices in Finland and plan your fuel stops.
