Norway truck winter tyres: dates, 5 mm tread, chains and fines

Trucks over 3,500 kg in Norway need winter-marked tyres from 15 November to 31 March, and 5 mm of tread plus snow chains from 1 November, or from 16 October in Nordland, Troms and Finnmark. Statens vegvesen (the Norwegian Public Roads Administration) restated these dates for hauliers on 2026-10-08 ( Statens vegvesen, 2026-10-08 ). As of 2026-10-24 the northern date has already passed. This guide separates the tyre marking dates from the tread and chain dates, then gives the fine per tyre and per chain, the chain count the regulation sets and what to expect on the mountain passes.

What are Norway's winter tyre rules for trucks over 3,500 kg?

Three duties apply to heavy vehicles above 3,500 kg: winter-marked tyres on defined axles, a minimum tread depth of 5 mm, and snow chains on board. The legal basis is § 1-4 of the regulation on the use of vehicles (Forskrift om bruk av kjøretøy) , and Statens vegvesen explains the practical side on its page for heavy-vehicle tyres , which shows no update date (accessed 2026-10-24).

Two points frame everything below. The owner is responsible for the chains being on board, and the driver is always responsible for suitable grip ( Statens vegvesen, 2026-10-08 ). Winter tyres or chains must also be used outside the fixed periods when conditions require it ( Statens vegvesen, 2025-10-17 ). The calendar dates are the legal minimum, and an early snowfall can make winter equipment necessary sooner.

For a wider comparison with other countries, see our guide to winter tyres and snow chains across Europe .

Which dates apply: 15 November, 1 November or 16 October?

All three dates are correct, because they belong to different obligations. The 15 November date governs tyre marking. The 1 November date starts the 5 mm tread and chain duties. The 16 October date moves those two duties forward in the north.

Sources: Lovdata, FOR-1990-01-25-92 and Statens vegvesen , accessed 2026-10-24. The regulation sets no separate northern date for the tyre marking rule, so 15 November to 31 March stands for the whole country.

The gap between 1 and 15 November is where summaries diverge. A tractor unit entering Norway in the first days of November with less than 5 mm of tread on the drive axle already breaks the tread rule, even though the 3PMSF marking is not yet required. The reverse happens in spring: tyre marking ends on 31 March, but the 5 mm and chain duties continue until the first Sunday after the second Easter Monday.

Finnish drivers searching for talvirenkaat Norja will find DSV Finland's notice of 2025-10-30 , which gives the 1 November season start and the 15 November to 31 March tyre period but says nothing on chains or fines. Drivers who cross Sweden first should check Sweden's winter tyre dates separately, since Sweden sets its own calendar.

How deep must the tread be, and which axles need the alpine symbol?

Vehicles over 3,500 kg need 5 mm of tread in the winter window, and drive and front steering axles need tyres with the 3PMSF symbol (three-peak mountain snowflake, the alpine symbol) from 15 November.

Tread depth

The 5 mm minimum applies from 1 November to the first Sunday after the second Easter Monday, and from 16 October to 30 April in Nordland, Troms and Finnmark. The summer minimum is 1.6 mm. Tread is measured in the main grooves across the middle three-quarters of the tread width ( Lovdata § 1-4 (2) ). For contrast with the EU-wide figure, see the minimum tread depth for trucks in the EU .

Axle marking

Other axles on a motor vehicle may use either M+S (mud and snow) or 3PMSF tyres. Trailers over 3,500 kg need M+S or 3PMSF tyres on all axles in the same period. DSV's Finnish notice describes the requirement as M+S tyres with 5 mm, but the regulation is stricter on the drive and front steering axles, where 3PMSF is required.

Studded tyres

Studded tyres are allowed, with limits. They are not permitted from the first Monday after the second Easter Monday to 31 October unless road conditions require them, and in the north the closed period runs from 1 May to 15 October. A vehicle over 3,500 kg with studded tyres needs studs on all wheels of the same axle, though one wheel of a twin pair is enough ( Lovdata § 1-4 (4) ).

How many snow chains must a truck carry in Norway?

A motor vehicle over 3,500 kg must carry at least three chains, one for the front wheels and two for the drive wheels. A combination of two vehicles over 3,500 kg with twin drive wheels must carry at least seven ( Lovdata § 1-4 (5) ). These are the totals the regulation sets, and they are the figures to check against what is in the locker.

The carrying duty applies wherever snow or ice can be expected, and always from 1 November to the first Sunday after the second Easter Monday (16 October to 30 April in the north). The Norwegian term kjettingplikt appears in searches on this topic. The regulation sets the carrying duty, and the driver stays responsible for suitable grip, so chains go on when the truck cannot hold the road without them. Orders to fit chains on a specific road section are not covered here, so check the signs and the Statens vegvesen traffic pages on each leg.

Because the owner answers for the chains being on board, dispatchers who work with subcontracted tractor units should get the chain count confirmed before the vehicle leaves for the border.

What are the fines for missing chains or worn tyres?

Fines in Norway are charged per tyre and per chain, so a single check can produce several fees. The fee schedule sits in the regulation on fees for certain traffic offences , last amended 2026-09-18.

One fee is issued for each missing chain. The amounts over 7,500 kg are confirmed in § 9 b and § 9 c of the fee regulation. The lower tier comes from the Statens vegvesen heavy-vehicle page , which has no update date, so treat the 750 NOK and 1,000 NOK figures as "per vegvesen.no".

Illustrative calculation, not a recorded case. A tractor-trailer combination over 7,500 kg stopped with all seven required chains missing would face 7 x 1,500 NOK = 10,500 NOK. If two of its tyres were also below 5 mm, the tyre fees would add 2 x 2,000 NOK = 4,000 NOK, giving 14,500 NOK in total.

The fee is not the full cost. A driving ban for inadequate grip can be imposed whether or not a fine or report is issued, and in serious cases a report (anmeldelse) can replace the fine. A banned truck stops where it is, so the delivery slot and the driver's hours are lost on top of the fee.

What happens on mountain passes: closures and convoy driving?

Norway has 23 mountain passes on its national road network, and when conditions make solo driving unsafe, Statens vegvesen uses convoy driving (kolonnekjøring) with one snowplough at the front and one at the back ( Statens vegvesen, mountain passes , accessed 2026-10-24). Dispatchers should allow waiting time at the foot of a pass when conditions are poor.

Teknisk Ukeblad reported on 2025-11-13 that Statens vegvesen planned a trial of a heavy-vehicles-only convoy on E134 Haukelifjell, together with the Norwegian haulier association NLF and the road contractor Mesta ( Teknisk Ukeblad, 2025-11-13 ). The listed requirements were good tyres, tightly linked chains, at least a half-full fuel tank, a towing hook, warm clothing, and food and drink. Whether the trial runs in 2026/27 is unconfirmed, so treat the list as a sensible kit for any pass rather than a current rule. A full tank before the climb is easier to plan with current diesel prices in Norway .

What should a foreign truck check before entering Norway?

Check the equipment against the table of dates before the border, not at it. The list below covers each point in the regulation.

• Chains: three for a motor vehicle over 3,500 kg, seven for a two-vehicle combination with twin drive wheels, on board from 1 November (16 October in the north).
• Tread: at least 5 mm in the main grooves on every tyre, measured across the middle three-quarters of the tread.
• Marking: 3PMSF on drive and front steering axles from 15 November, and M+S or 3PMSF on trailer axles.
• Studs: if fitted, on all wheels of the same axle.
• Conditions: the Statens vegvesen traffic pages list traffic messages, webcams and a route planner, and are worth opening before each leg through a pass.
• Border paperwork: equipment is half of a clean entry, and the customs declaration is the other half, so review Norway's digitoll rules for carriers .

Frequently asked questions

Are winter tyres mandatory for trucks in Norway?

Yes, for vehicles over 3,500 kg from 15 November to 31 March. Drive and front steering axles need the 3PMSF symbol, other axles may use M+S or 3PMSF, and trailers over 3,500 kg need M+S or 3PMSF on all axles. Winter tyres or chains must also be used outside those dates when conditions require.

How many snow chains must a truck carry in Norway?

At least three for a motor vehicle over 3,500 kg: one for the front wheels and two for the drive wheels. A combination of two vehicles over 3,500 kg with twin drive wheels needs at least seven. These totals come from § 1-4 (5) of the regulation on the use of vehicles.

What is the minimum tread depth for trucks in Norway in winter?

5 mm for vehicles over 3,500 kg, from 1 November to the first Sunday after the second Easter Monday. In Nordland, Troms and Finnmark the minimum applies from 16 October to 30 April. The summer minimum is 1.6 mm.

Are studded tyres allowed on trucks in Norway?

Yes, outside the closed period. They are not allowed from the first Monday after the second Easter Monday to 31 October (1 May to 15 October in the north) unless road conditions require them. A vehicle over 3,500 kg needs studs on all wheels of the same axle, and one wheel of a twin pair is enough.

What is the fine for no chains in Norway?

The fine is charged per missing chain: 750 NOK up to 7,500 kg (per vegvesen.no), 1,200 NOK over 7,500 kg, and 1,500 NOK over 7,500 kg pulling a trailer over 3,500 kg. A driving ban can be added whether or not a fine is issued.

When do you need snow chains in Norway?

Chains must be carried wherever snow or ice can be expected, and always from 1 November to the first Sunday after the second Easter Monday (16 October to 30 April in the north). They must be fitted when the truck cannot keep suitable grip without them.

Are the winter dates different in northern Norway?

Yes, for the 5 mm tread and chain duties, which run from 16 October to 30 April in Nordland, Troms and Finnmark. The regulation sets no separate northern date for the winter tyre marking rule, which stays at 15 November to 31 March.

Looking for steady European freight with fair, transparent payment terms? Join the Logifie carrier network and get loads on Nordic lanes that match your equipment and season.