Snow chains/tyres compulsory in France

[In a Pickle]

According to the Motorhoming France November newsletter a new law is to make snow chains/tyres compulsory from 1st November to 31st March. If a snow related accident happens and snow chains/tyres are not in use the fine will be 135 euros. The law will apply in 48 departments in France which are deemed to be in mountain areas.

 

[steve 6644]

Sounds like a five month thing to me.

 

[funflair]

I just run snow rated tyres all year and so far have not been anywhere high enough to need chains, I believe that they use signs in the mountains when you must fit them but I don't think you would want them on in anything but pretty deep snow.

Martin

 

[Southdowners]

We have snow tyres on all the time. They’re brilliant. We had knee deep snow the other day and -15c temp they performed really well.

 

[Lanerboy]

How would you stand then if you were heading to Spain in January via the tunnel. I would presume you would need snow tyres or even chains to get over the Pyrenees range to avoid the fines

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[Southdowners]

How would you stand then if you were heading to Spain in January via the tunnel. I would presume you would need snow tyres or even chains to get over the Pyrenees range to avoid the fines

Change to snow tyres. You can keep them on all the time.

 

[PhilandMena]

How would you stand then if you were heading to Spain in January via the tunnel. I would presume you would need snow tyres or even chains to get over the Pyrenees range to avoid the fines

No need to go over the pair of knees. Use the N10 route. Always snow and Ice free.

 

[GWAYGWAY]

How would you stand then if you were heading to Spain in January via the tunnel. I would presume you would need snow tyres or even chains to get over the Pyrenees range to avoid the fines

I went over Andorra on 31st December in 10 foot snow but the roads were clear of snow it was the skiers parked up cars that blocked the roads.

 

[Pete5996]

It's not a mandatory requirement across the 48 departements - only selected areas according to road conditions, decided upon by the local authority. There will be signage on the approach to such an area.

 

[mitzimad]

ive been waiting for this there was some debate as to wether they wanted full snow of just m&s do you have a link to where you got this infomation

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[mitzimad]

According to the Motorhoming France November newsletter a new law is to make snow chains/tyres compulsory from 1st November to 31st March. If a snow related accident happens and snow chains/tyres are not in use the fine will be 135 euros. The law will apply in 48 departments in France which are deemed to be in mountain areas.

still cheaper to pay the fine than shell out for four tyres and chains and the fine is only if you have an accident

 

[JohnJan]

I can't see snow tyres being compulsory ever, every French person in the particular areas would be up in arms, as would the hire companies at the airports for the skiing season

 

[tuscancouple]

I can't see snow tyres being compulsory ever, every French person in the particular areas would be up in arms, as would the hire companies at the airports for the skiing season

Not so. Our son lives in the Haute Savoie region of France. Come mid November most people will have swapped onto snow tyres until April the following year. It just makes good sense. They have another set of wheels that have the snow tyres on.

In the winter if you hire a car from Geneva airport and are travelling into his region it will have snow tyres fitted.

It's not a case of avoiding a fine, it's getting the children to school and doing the shopping

Mick

 

[ivorantony]

still cheaper to pay the fine than shell out for four tyres and chains and the fine is only if you have an accident

So in. Nutshell better to have a accident and possibly kill or maim someone including your family for the price
Of some snow tyres,
IMO you have your priorities all wrong,

 

[JohnJan]

My hire cars from Europcar in Geneva airport have never had snow tyres, however you can "upgrade" and pay for a higher grade. Also snowchains have to be purchased.
At La Rosiere on the approach road there is a point where you must have chains on to pass but I've never seen it actually policed. Same in the Pyrenees although you'd never make it up when the snow is packed.
Re "most people will have swapped onto snow tyres" should probably be some people etc. Given the state and age of a lot of French cars, particularly in rural areas I find it hard to believe they'll have a spare set of wheels and tyres

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[Pete5996]

This snow tyres issue has generated a lot of hot air, if you'll excuse the pun . Motorhoming France really should have checked the facts before publishing.

It came about as draft regulations were under discussion and nothing has yet been decreed. A couple of tyre distributors announced it as a done deal presumably to boost sales and the rumour went viral in France.

This link is a Google translation of a clarification of the state of play with their summary below. Other similar sites confirming that it is fake news are available:

We summarize:
- At this stage, no implementing decree or decree specifies under which conditions the highway code would be completed to introduce new obligations of equipment of vehicles in winter.

- No new obligations will come into effect this winter, according to Road Safety.

- The proposed draft decree would not tend to make winter tires mandatory but would leave the choice, under certain conditions, between snow chains and winter tires.

- This type of obligation does not concern half of the French territory but specifically affected areas decided by decrees.

 

[Brains]

I can't see snow tyres being compulsory ever, every French person in the particular areas would be up in arms, as would the hire companies at the airports for the skiing season

Just rented a car from Munich airport for December.
It comes with winter tyres and chains.
No extra cost as they are mandatory items in Bavaria in the winter.

 

[Paddywack]

My hire cars from Europcar in Geneva airport have never had snow tyres, however you can "upgrade" and pay for a higher grade. Also snowchains have to be purchased.
At La Rosiere on the approach road there is a point where you must have chains on to pass but I've never seen it actually policed. Same in the Pyrenees although you'd never make it up when the snow is packed

They only police it when the conditions merit it. But if you go beyond that point without chains , and it then snows you will get done if you try to move your vehicle.

 

[vwalan]

many van tyres as standard are m+s tyres . mud and snow.
but carrying some chains dont add that much to weight or space.
they can be size adjustable to cover several tyre sizes.

 

[nicholsong]

Why do vehicle manufacturers not fit winter tyres as standard for European markets - saves faffing around with changing. We run on them all year, both on car and MH.

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[busby]

Change to snow tyres. You can keep them on all the time.

You will only be fined if you have an accident or get stuck and block the road.BUSBY.

 

[nicholsong]

You will only be fined if you have an accident or get stuck and block the road.BUSBY.

On winter tyres?

 

[busby]

Why do vehicle manufacturers not fit winter tyres as standard for European markets - saves faffing around with changing. We run on them all year, both on car and MH.

On winter tyres?

Don't know about that,BUSBY.

 

[busby]

Just read law on another forum..it states snow chains or snow tyres which i presume are winter tyres.BUSBY.

 

[funflair]

Just read law on another forum..it states snow chains or snow tyres which i presume are winter tyres.BUSBY.

Four season all year round tyres from Continental and others have the 3PMSF (3 peaked mountain and snowflake) so they are classed as winter tyres when required not just M+S which don't cut it everywhere as far as the rules are concerned.

Martin

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[Vipar]

Never had a problem with snow now ice is a different matter.

 

[Jaws]

We have M & S tyres and snow chains.. though I have never put the chains on

 

[Pete5996]

An explanation of the winter tyre rules has just been published by an online news site for Brits out here. If the section of road allows winter tyres as an option to chains, the words 'pneus neige admis' or 'pneus hiver admis' will be added to the road sign.

There's also a link on that page to a useful interactive map (in French) which shows the requirements throughout Europe.

The same information, in English, can be downloaded as a nicely comprehensive PDF from here.

 

[gus-lopez]

No need to go over the pair of knees. Use the N10 route. Always snow and Ice free.

I use it as far as Bordeaux then go left to Langon & down through the som port. Far quicker.

Just rented a car from Munich airport for December.
It comes with winter tyres and chains.
No extra cost as they are mandatory items in Bavaria in the winter.

Where my brother lived in Germany everyone had a second set of winter tyres on a spare set of wheels, usually steel.

 

[Jenben]

We have a second set of steel wheels for our van with our winter tyres on them. We have been skiing in the van and do carry a set of snow chains with us on our winter travels.

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