Which axles need winter tyres on an HGV in Germany, and is M+S still valid?
Germany winter tyres trucks: HGVs over 3.5 t need winter tyres on driven and front steering axles in wintry weather, and M+S alone is invalid.
Logifie Team
Logistics Technology Experts
In Germany an HGV over 3.5 t (class N2 or N3) must run winter tyres on at least its permanently driven axles and its front steering axles whenever the road is icy, snowy, slushy or frosted. M+S alone no longer counts: since 2024-10-01 the tyres need the Alpine three-peak snowflake symbol.
When does the German winter tyre rule apply to trucks?
Germany has no fixed winter calendar. The duty in section 2(3a) of the StVO applies only in the weather it names: black ice, packed snow, slush, ice or hoar frost. On a dry road in January a driver is not in breach, and on a frosted road in October the same driver is. A route that crosses the border needs a second check, for example when you compare the fixed Austrian winter tyre dates .
The penalty is set by the Bussgeldkatalog, not by the StVO itself. Driving in those conditions without suitable tyres costs 60 EUR and 1 point, and 80 EUR if the driver obstructs other traffic, according to the federal fine schedule (BKatV, 2026) . A keeper who orders or allows the trip faces a separate 75 EUR fine.
Which axles must carry winter tyres on a German HGV?
For N2 and N3 vehicles, and for buses of classes M2 and M3, the StVO accepts a partial fit. The wording requires winter tyres on "mindestens die Räder der permanent angetriebenen Achsen und der vorderen Lenkachsen", so both the permanently driven axles and the front steering axles are covered. Fitting only the drive axle is not enough, whatever older advice says.
Trailers and semi-trailers are not motor vehicles, and the rule addresses only motor vehicles. The BGL truck winter tyre FAQ reads it the same way and adds that the steering-axle duty has applied since 2020-07-01. The wider picture across countries is in our guide on whether trucks need winter tyres and snow chains in Europe .
Is M+S still valid on a truck tyre in Germany?
No. Section 36(4) of the StVZO now defines a winter tyre as one marked with the Alpine symbol, a mountain pictogram with a snowflake, under UN Regulation No. 117. M+S tyres produced up to 2017-12-31 were tolerated until 2024-09-30, and that transition has ended, as the BGL FAQ confirms. According to the BGL, a manufacturer letter cannot replace a missing marking.
Tread depth follows the general rule of 1.6 mm across the main profile in the same section, with no higher figure for winter tyres. Fleets that replace earlier can set a house limit using the EU minimum tyre tread depth for trucks .
Frequently asked questions
Do trailers need winter tyres in Germany?
No. The rule in section 2(3a) of the StVO speaks only of motor vehicles, and a trailer or semi-trailer is not one.
Can I use a drive axle with winter tyres and a steering axle with summer tyres?
No. For N2 and N3 vehicles the minimum is both the permanently driven axles and the front steering axles. A summer-tyre steering axle breaches the rule even when the drive axle is correct.
What happens if a German police check finds M+S only tyres?
Without the Alpine symbol the tyres do not count as winter tyres. In wintry conditions the driver faces 60 EUR and 1 point, or 80 EUR if traffic is obstructed, and the keeper can face 75 EUR.
Is there a calendar date for winter tyres in Germany?
No. The duty depends on the road condition, not the date. Fitting winter tyres from October to Easter is a common rule of thumb, not a legal period.
Check speed limits and other German driving rules for your route on the Logifie German truck speed limits page .
