Traveling by car in summer is definitely cool and there are many advantages - warmth, stable good weather, long daylight hours, which makes the journey easier and allows you to see more beautiful and interesting things. But just as nature does not have bad weather, there is no bad season for travel.

Winter is a great time to travel to Europe for the Christmas season, when cities are all transformed and become more like an elaborately decorated Christmas tree. Or load your ski equipment in your car and go skiing in the Alps at one of the many ski resorts. Or you can combine skiing and snowboards with visiting festive cities. Traveling with your own car makes this easy.
There are a lot of options for recreation and great pastime in Europe in winter.

But before going to Europe in winter by car, prepare for this.

In the cold season, most motorists in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine change their tires from summer to winter. What kind of rubber to put studded or without studs (Velcro), everyone chooses according to their preferences. I have been riding studs for the fifth season now, I am very pleased and ready to argue their advantages in relation to non-studded tires, which I drove for five seasons before the shift and was also pleased.)

The rules and times for the seasonal change of tires in European countries are different.

When going to Europe, you need to find out what rules regarding winter tires exist in the country where you decide to go, and in those countries through which you plan to follow to your destination.
Despite the fact that many European countries are members of the European Union, there are many differences in legislation and this concerns the rules governing the time of changing summer tires to winter ones, as well as the requirements for winter tires. In some European countries winter tires are compulsory, but in some they are not, somewhere studded tires are allowed, but somewhere they are prohibited.

Imagine the situation, you are going on a trip by car to Austria. We planned to make a march to Vienna, inspect this beautiful city in a few days, and then move further west to rest for a week. You have carefully prepared, planned the route, made a list of attractions, booked hotels in advance and set off. From Moscow, the closest route to Austria is through Poland. Upon arrival at the Polish border, you will find out that in your car with studded tires the road to Poland is closed, since studs are prohibited in Poland. All your arguments to the border guards, that you don't want to go to Poland, but to Austria, that not cheap hotels have been booked there and the reservation for them will burn out and no one will return the money, etc. they don't care much. The situation is not very pleasant.

I got into a similar situation personally. In March 2016, we decided to go for a walk to Poland by car, visit Warsaw and Krakow in a week. About how we were not allowed across the border on studded tires It happened quite unexpectedly and at first caused a state close to shock. You, neither sleep nor spirit, but here it is! “I have to upset the pan, but we won't be able to keep you out of the country on the rings (in Polish spikes)!” I had to urgently change the route. It turned out almost painlessly, instead of Poland, we went to Lithuania. True, we had to block the card so that the greedy Warsaw hotel would not write off the money (attempts to negotiate did not lead to success.) But it’s good that we had the freedom to choose where to go and there was no rush!

There may be such a situation that you decide to go to Lithuania in mid-November, winter is in no hurry, there is no snow, and they did not have time to change the tires on the wheels. And in Lithuania, as a rule, from November 10, winter tires are obligatory. (I haven’t checked it on myself, but most likely they will not let me in, in the Baltic countries there are very strict traffic rules and their administration by the authorities.) On winter tires in the warm season, it’s also better not to go.

Is it possible to go to Europe on studded tires?

So, in order not to get into unexpected situations, below is a list of European countries where winter tires are required and a list of countries where studded tires are prohibited.

European countries where winter tires are compulsory:

Armenia
Belarus
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Iceland
Latvia

Luxembourg
Macedonia
Moldavia
Romania
Serbia
Slovenia
Turkey
Finland
Croatia
Montenegro
Sweden
Czech
Estonia

European countries where studded tires are prohibited

Albania
Bulgaria
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Hungary
Germany
Greece
Ireland
Spain
Macedonia
Netherlands (Holland)

Portugal
Romania
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Croatia
Montenegro
Czech

As you can see, the list of countries where studded tires are prohibited is quite large.
For example, you won't be able to get to Austria by car with studded tires without violating the rules of other countries through which you will be driving. Austria, where studded tires are in law, is literally surrounded by countries in which studded tires are prohibited - Hungary, Germany, Slovenia, Slovakia. The shortest path lies through the aforementioned Poland, where thorns are extremely disliked.)

Thus, if you are going to Europe in winter and you have winter tires without studs, then there will be no problems.

How to get to Europe on studded tires

If you have studded tires, then you can get into the European Union through the European countries included in it, in which studded tires are allowed. Returning to the example with Austria, in order to get to it on studded tires, you need to enter the eurozone through Latvia, Lithuania or Estonia where studs are allowed, then through Poland with which Lithuania has a transparent border, then Germany (Hungary, Slovakia). This option is not perfect, in any of the countries where studded tires are prohibited, if they stop, they will write out a fine and may force the tires to stud. But as the people say, who does not take risks, he does not drink aperol-spritz in Austrian ski resorts!) To buy specially winter tires without spikes, so that there is no desire to travel to Europe, it is expensive and vain. I assess the risks as not very high, from my experience in Europe they rarely stop cars for inspection. Hopefully this hypothesis will soon be tested! 😉

If you have any questions about traveling to Europe by car, feel free to ask in the comments. I will answer with pleasure!

Articles on the topic Studded tires in Europe

Or how we were deployed on the Polish border in Brest.

As we passed the border with the Belarusian-Lithuanian border in Privalki.

Planning a trip to Europe by car? Investigate the use of Studded Rubber in European Countries.

Despite the fact that studded tires are held in high esteem in Russia, in most European countries studded tires are in deep disgrace. First of all, the problem is that such vehicle equipment damages the road surface. Russian budgets allow for the repair of rutted roads after each winter, while Europe saves and does not intend to incur extra costs.

So, if you are going on a winter road trip across Europe, then you should clarify in advance whether spikes are allowed in those countries that you are going to visit, since the rules for using winter tires in different European countries are different.

We would like to inform you in advance that from the automatic site service you can take your trip.

They say about thorns

Many travelers have already convinced themselves the hard way that it will not be possible to get around the strict ban on the use of studded tires. Here are some quotes from popular forums:

“We were driving the editorial Discovery from Arctic Lapland, where there is nothing without spikes. And the German border guards flatly refused to let us into Germany: “You have studded tires, but they are prohibited on our roads. Either buy normal tires at your nearest store, or pick out the spikes! ” I had to arm myself with screwdrivers. And only after the last spike was removed from the tread, they gave us passports and wished us a happy journey. "

“Most likely, there will be control at the border crossing and at any police check. You can slip through, but it is better not to risk it, because if it is detected, they will definitely not be allowed to go further: when the car does not meet the technical requirements, they simply call a tow truck, quickly and without talking. "

As you can see, there is no point in arguing with the Euro-policemen. The most correct decision is to strictly follow the rules established for your type of car. But the question remains - what to do if you decide to travel by car to several countries?

Best strategy when traveling to Europe in winter

Since the rules for the use of winter tires in different European countries are different, then it seems to us that this approach is the most logical:

• We install non-studded winter tires allowed in Europe.
• We take chains with us and put them on the wheels if necessary.

Alternatively, drive around Scandinavia on spikes, and when moving, say, to Germany, leave your car in the parking lot and take a rental car.

Where can you go with studded tires?

Spikes are allowed in Finland. This is clear. However, even here you can drive on studded tires only from November 1 to March 31. In addition, there are strict standards for the number of thorns and their "density". The standards differ for different types of vehicles: for cars, for trucks and for motorcycles, they are different.

So you should clarify in advance whether your tires fit the strict rules or whether you need to change them before the trip. For example, for passenger cars with 13-inch tires, the rules are set: no more than 90 studs that protrude no more than 1.2 mm and exert pressure on the roadway not exceeding 120N. The calculations are quite complex. Many find it easier to change tires for a winter version without spikes and roll on it, having in stock chains for emergency situations.

In winter, in most European countries, you will be required to have winter tires. But again - it should be without thorns! But the presence of snow chains in many countries is either required or encouraged. So, for example, in Albania, chains must be on board any car from November 1 to April 30.

More information can be found in the table below. The main thing is to understand that the rules of the game can change, therefore, before the trip, you should clarify the current rules for the use of studded tires in the countries you are going to visit.

The country	Permitted period of use	Speed ​​limit for cars equipped with studded tires on highways / autobahns, km / h	Notes (edit)
Austria	from 1.10 to 31.05	80/100	only for vehicles with a total mass of up to 3.5 t, the sign "spikes" is required
Albania	allowed
Andorra	allowed
Belgium	prohibited (81.4.4)
Bulgaria	prohibited
Bosnia and Herzegovina	prohibited
Great Britain	allowed
Hungary	prohibited
Germany	prohibited
Holland	prohibited
Greece	allowed
Denmark	01.10-01.04	80/110
Ireland	allowed	96/112
Iceland	allowed
Spain	15.11-31.03		only in the presence of snow or ice
Italy	15.11-15.03	90/120
Latvia	01.10-01.05
Lithuania	01.11-09.04
Luxembourg	01.12-31.03	60/90	obligatory sign "60 km / h"
Macedonia	prohibited
Moldavia	prohibited
Norway	01.11-before Easter	80/90
Poland	prohibited
Portugal	prohibited
Romania	prohibited
Serbia	prohibited
Slovakia	prohibited
Slovenia	prohibited
Ukraine	allowed
Finland	01.11-31.03 or another week after Easter, whichever is later	80/100
France	11.11-31.03	90/90	obligatory sign "90 km / h"
Croatia	prohibited
Montenegro	prohibited
Czech	prohibited
Switzerland	01.11-30.04	80 / not allowed on the autobahns	obligatory sign "80 km / h"
Sweden	01.10-30.04
Estonia	01.11-01.05	90

The situation with studded tires is much more complicated. In most European countries, they prohibited to use due to their destructive effect on the roadway. Instead, it is sometimes allowed to use summer tires fitted with snow chains.

Rules for the use of winter tires in Europe

Winter tires are not compulsory in all European countries. But even in these countries, driving on some roads with summer tires without snow chains may be prohibited. In addition, winter tires must be marked with one of the signs M + S, M.S, M-S, M & S and have a minimum tread depth of at least 3 mm.

As you can see from the map, you can easily travel to the Baltic states and the Nordic countries on studded tires. But it will be very difficult to get to the ski resorts of Austria, Italy, Switzerland and France.

The table shows the requirements for winter and studded tires for vehicles with a total weight not exceeding 3.5 tons.

Studded tires in Poland?

Tell me, in Poland prohibition on studding. What to do if we have studded rubber? Buy a new one? Maybe there is some kind of rental? So I don’t want to spend extra money! And another question, on January 2 there will be traffic jams on the border with Poland, or is it better to go on another day? For example, January 1st?

Zaitselyub Quote: What if we have studded rubber? Buy new Thorns can be pulled out.

Penalty for studded tires in the Czech Republic

We want to take a chance and go to the Czech Republic for studded rubber... What threatens us and to what extent?

Nini... -latvia-lithuania- Poland-Czech Republic IMHO but isn't it easier to Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania? Quote: especially with Poland, a bunch of residents of Lithuania and Latvia visit this country in cars with studded rubber, about the hit. asphalt. Everything cost a present to the policeman in the form of a pack of cigarettes. it's in Poland, and in the Czech Republic. I would not say (strictly IMHO)
2 replies from this thread

In January to Europe on studded tires.

Help with advice. We want to go to Europe in January (via Lithuania) to Germany, Holland and Belgium. Standing on the car studded rubber, tell me how to be in this situation. I don’t want to change shoes for summer, and it’s scary, and there’s no point in buying an all-season one just for a ride. Thank you.

hombre... to Europe in January (via Lithuania) to Germany, Holland and Belgium. Standing on the car studded rubber, tell me how to be in this situation. I don’t want to change shoes for summer, and it’s scary, eh. In your sense, it just makes sense to buy an all-season. You just Poland will not be allowed (and maybe in Lithuania) on.

Do you need studded tires in Finland in winter?

Needed in winter studded rubber in Finland?

Larsi Booba, it is to the Finns that there are only thorns, and regardless of the weather conditions, from November 1 (I can confuse the date) a car without thorns will not be allowed to go. But in the same poland Nichrome is not allowed with thorns. Only winter studless. Oh how.

On summer tires in winter to austria

There is only studded rubber, but there is also a summer one - completely new. Will they be allowed in mid-March in Austria for a summer rubber(will there be chains just in case)? And with poland will there be no problems? Thanks!

Clara-with-Karl... snow. In these cases, insurance companies are very happy that the driver on the summer rubber and wash their hands. The insured event occurs when the rules are observed - until April 15, there must be a winter rubber... Naturally, there are no checks. And no one will wrap it up. But if something happens, the financial responsibility will fall.

To Poland by car in NG. Route criticism

Good day! We got together with my family (me, my wife, son 14 years old and daughter 11 years old) by car in Poland on NG. The plan is as follows: on 1.01 we leave Moscow at 7 am, drive to Domachevo, spend the night there.

Olga (other) Someone has already said that in Poland prohibited studded rubber? keep this in mind.

Traveled exclusively with the help of TO. But then the thought ripened on New Year's holidays to go and see Poland by car. Where to start planning a trip, what to start, where to start.

Violka Thank you very much Lonnie for such a quick response)). Of course, we will not eat through Ukraine) I read here on the forum that the entrance to studded rubber is it really forbidden? I sit and frantically remember what rubber on my car))) and then my husband's car has already disappeared (((

Requirements for a car for traveling in Poland

There are many, but the answers to their questions have not been found. In January we are planning a trip to Poland by car. 1. What must be from the documents: technical passport, driver's license. that the car should have a set of spare bulbs? Are there any similar requirements in Poland? 5. Do you need a reflective vest? 6. Regarding the first-aid kit: are there any discrepancies in the list of medicines that.

Lonnie... road traffic, police rights, technical passports for vehicles Foreigners moving on Poland Poland prohibited use studded rubber

Help with any questions you may have. Poland by car.

Alpine skiing? 3. How difficult is it to cross the border by car, how difficult is the way to Poland... How long is it to Warsaw by car? 4. If you live outside the center in Warsaw and Krakow, it is possible. -throw to quit and go on foot? 5. If we are in Poland will be December 27, then the Christmas markets are already over? 6. Recommend a good travel guide for Poland is not a polyglot. Well, so far, like everything, although questions.

Lonnie... road traffic, police rights, technical passports for vehicles Foreigners moving on Poland by car, must remember that they are required to have and present at the request of the authorized. sign (plaque) indicating the state in which this vehicle is registered. v Poland prohibited use studded rubber The police have the right: Note: The police have the right to withdraw the driver's license.

Motor rally from Moscow to Poland, Czech Republic, Germany.

The route was chosen from Moscow to Belarus (something closer to the border with Poland)-Poland(Krakow) -Czech Republic (Prague, Karlovy Vary) -Germany (Berlin) - Poland(Warsaw) - Belarus (something closer to the border with Russia.

Zaitselyub... 10:34:11 For the new year we passed the border in Brest in a deadly tinted car with studded rubber... Nobody said a word to us. By Poland-Slovakia dashed off about 2000 km, too, no one found fault. Now I'm.

To Poland in someone else's car

Good afternoon. My friend and I want to go to Poland in his mother's car. I will drive, he also has a license, but he will not drive. would you briefly tell what you should pay special attention to when driving a car on Poland and Belarus (features of the rules, unspoken rules, useful tips, etc.) Thank you in advance.

Henry Quote: that the car - Lada 2112 - will not be allowed into Poland on ecology. Poles, too, far from all go to Euro4 :) They will not be allowed to studded rubber.

To Poland by car

In times of crisis) the idea of ​​celebrating the New Year 2016 in Belarus, and then going to Poland... The plan is something like this. Departure from the Moscow region. Spend a few days in Brest.

Masha And you instead Poland visit the Baltics. Drive through the capitals. Many tourists go there to meet NG for several years in a row. studded rubber can.

Will they be allowed through Poland to the Czech Republic in their own car, if the tires are different in pairs?

Will they be allowed through Poland to the Czech Republic in your car, if rubber different in pairs?

Zaitselyub Quote: and on the other - studded eg. not in Poland on thorns

Moscow - Warsaw by car. A couple of questions

In order. 1) Dates - early November. Snow is already possible in Russia at this time. Studded rubber v Poland prohibited. The question arises: to go on a summer car? Will there be any problems on the track, provided. they write that you can pay safely on the border with Poland without any problem. 5) M1 highway in Belarus (from the border with the Russian Federation to the border with Poland) - really excellent asphalt throughout the entire length with a restriction.

Oleg F.... Quote: 1) Dates - early November. Snow is already possible in Russia at this time. Studded rubber v Poland prohibited. The question arises: to go on a summer car? Will there be any problems on the track, provided. ... Don't even stop. Quote: 3) The standard green card is suitable for both Belarus and Poland? Absolutely. Quote: really excellent asphalt all over with a 120 limit? How much.
3 replies from this thread

To Prague by car from St. Petersburg

January 2). We have a car studded rubber... I understand that we will be able to enter Latvia on it. But further through the territory Poland and in the Czech Republic itself, it is prohibited. How dangerous is it after all to ride it? Is there a border between the Baltics and Poland? Or, having entered Latvia, they will not check us anywhere? And at the same time more.

V! TAl! Y Quote: Yes, apparently you will have to buy a new one rubber... and on all-season it is possible? once went to Prague for the new year, for this business I bought not studded rubber... To my surprise, in February I was able to sell it, I lost only 2,000 rubles on this operation.

In winter, by car.

Tell me, on studded rubber let in Poland or not!?

To the Czech Republic by car: pitfalls

We are considering the possibility of going to Prague by car in November. As far as I understand, studded rubber can not be put. Is it possible to go in summer, normal and there will be roads? Or take care of winter / studless wheels? In addition, what else does a driver need to know to drive around the Czech Republic?

never And here's another question. Maybe someone just / recently traveled. What about the roads now, in the Czech Republic / Poland/ Baltics? everything is all right, there are no cataclysms?

In winter, by car to Belarus

We want to go to NG in Belarus by car, I just can't find out if it's allowed studded rubber in Belarus and how things are going with toning. It will be a pity to tear off: (and are there any other nuances? Thanks in advance for your response!

Anastasia Last year we went to from Moscow to Poland through Belarus. Drivers always blinked warning about traffic police.

Bad Reichenhall or other thermal region

Irina-M... on the studded rubber... In Bad Hofgastein I have not seen studded local tires (for some time now I have been paying close attention to rubber resident machines). In general, the thorns there are meaningless I can only assume that studded .
2 replies from this thread

from Terespol to Krakow or Warsaw

I am sorry 🙂 I really hope for real help, not criticism. We are planning an independent trip to Poland(Krakow) - Czech Republic (Prague) for the New Year holidays. We plan to cross the border on the Brest train.

Lonnie... IP: 95.167.120. * Scandals of intrigue investigation, Irin, am I right? Not allowed on studded rubber? Since you were not frightened by my 138 years and ten. tires with permanent metal elements, that is, with so-called spikes. V Poland they are prohibited everywhere. What is the situation in other countries? ...

Rules for the use of winter and studded tires in Europe

Winter road conditions in Northern and Central (mountainous) Europe, especially in winter recreation areas, become much more difficult. Snow and ice formation on roads are common during this time. As a result, the grip of the tires with the road deteriorates.

Some countries require drivers always used winter tires at certain times of the year. In other countries, the need for use arises only under certain road conditions. And somewhere it is advisory in nature.

On the map below, you can clearly see in which countries in winter the use of winter tires is mandatory all the time, and in which only when appropriate weather conditions occur.

Weather conditions are considered wintry when there is snow, ice or slush on any part of the road. And also if the road is wet combined with temperatures around or below 0 degrees.

The use of winter tires is compulsory
- mandatory under appropriate weather conditions
- winter tires are optional

In which countries is studded tires prohibited?

Studded tires are banned in most Eastern European countries - Poland, Romania, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Serbia, Macedonia, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, as well as Turkey, Germany, the Netherlands and Portugal.

General requirements for winter equipment in Europe

The data in the table can be sorted in ascending / descending order by clicking on the column heading.

Winter tires in Europe

From year to year trips for Christmas and New Years in Europe on their car are becoming more and more popular. At the same time, it is important to know the rules for using winter tires in order to correctly prepare your car for the trip in Europe during the cold season. Snow and ice in many European countries require the use of winter tires, but it should be noted that studded tires are prohibited in many European countries.

Studded tires in Europe

Countries where studded tires are prohibited: Hungary, Germany, Holland (Netherlands), Greece, Ireland, Spain, Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Czech Republic, Switzerland.

Countries in which studded tires are allowed: Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Great Britain, Denmark, Iceland, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Norway, Turkey, Finland, France, Sweden, Estonia.

Conclusion: Since the path to Europe lies through Poland, then before crossing the Belarusian-Polish border it is important to ensure that the vehicle is equipped with winter tires without studs.

Winter tires in Europe

In most countries, certain requirements are imposed on winter (non-studded) tires. For example, in Austria there is a rule according to which there must be a mark on the side walls of the tire. M + S(for mud and snow). If there is rubber with such a mark, the road safety officers of other European countries will automatically have no questions about the seasonality of your tires. The tread depth of such winter tires must be at least 4 millimeters.

Snow chains in Europe

In the mountainous regions of European countries, you may need snow chains. In some countries, for example, summer tires are allowed in winter, but with snow chains. Chains are only used where the road is covered with dense snow or ice, and in areas where there is a prescriptive sign.

For example, in Italy ...

Or in France, Switzerland and Liechtenstein ...

• Penalty for driving on winter tires: what can be punished for?
• 2. What is a fine
• 5. How to appeal a fine
• 6. The legality of giving a bribe
• 7. Situation in other countries

Outside the window already long-term above zero temperature, and many drivers do not even think about changing the shoes of their iron horse. This is due not only to not wanting to change wheels. Many simply do not have money, and some are simply negligent about replacing rubber in general.

Almost every driver knows that summer tires are provided for the warm season, and winter tires for the cold season and difficult weather conditions. Nevertheless, even in summer on the roads you can hear the roar of studded winter tires... In this article, we will consider not only the consequences that may be if you do not change tires, but also issues related to the administrative responsibility of drivers for driving on winter tires in the summer.

1.What is the risk of riding on winter tires in summer

Even novice drivers are aware of the fact that different tires provide different grip properties of a car with a road surface and affect its handling.

No wonder there are different types of tires. Moreover, these differences are significant and are intended for different modes of vehicle operation. Differences are observed not only in the design of the wheels, but also in the way they are made.

Separately, it is worth noting such a view as all season tires... They have both significant advantages and disadvantages. The latter are connected with the fact that "all-seasons" have worse adhesion to the road surface than summer ones in summer and, accordingly, than winter ones in winter.

In order to understand what riding on winter tires in summer is fraught with, it is important to understand what the differences in rubber are. The purpose of winter wheels is to maintain elasticity at low temperatures. Basic materials, for the manufacture of winter rubber are rubber, silicon-containing polymers, active fillers and emollients, as well as vulcanizers, antioxidants and colorants.

Thanks to all these components, rubber does not become hard at low temperatures and retains its softness. I recommend using winter tires even when the temperature is less than 10 degrees above zero.

In contrast, summer tires are designed for high temperatures and are designed to provide good grip when the asphalt is hot. Summer rubber tends to harden at low temperatures.

In some countries, not only a fine is provided for driving on inappropriate tires, but also more serious punishment, in the form of deprivation of rights and liberty.

2. What is a fine

A fine, in this context, is a monetary penalty in favor of the state, in the event that the driver has violated the traffic rules.

Penalties can be either fixed or set depending on the severity of the violation and the circumstances under which it occurred.

3. Penalty for bald tires, tread height

The grip properties are influenced not only by the constituent elements of the rubber, but also by the tread pattern. So, the tread pattern on winter tires is represented by sparse, deep and large elements, which provide better handling on snow or ice. They also provide better grip due to their larger area. Another feature of winter tires is the ability to drain snow and dirt, and not just liquids (this is how summer tires work).

The summer rubber tread has a longitudinal character, which provides good grip on hard and rough road surfaces.

With a strong desire, you can ride winter tires in summer, since there are no pronounced prohibitions in Ukrainian legislation. But, at the same time, it should be borne in mind that it is more expensive, since the car begins to consume more fuel due to the high rolling resistance, which occurs when driving in summer on winter tires.

Despite the fact that world experience strictly prohibits driving off-season tires, the Ukrainian government is in no hurry to introduce these restrictions. In 2013, this bill was even considered, but was never adopted.

4. Penalty for tires with different tread on the axles

The road traffic regulations of Ukraine definitely provide for the technical condition of vehicles, which must be observed by all car owners.

Thus, it is not allowed to install diagonal tires on one axle of a car in combination with radial, absolutely, as well as studded with non-studded, frost-resistant with non-frost-resistant tires of different designs and sizes, as well as wheels with different tread patterns and different models.

Violation of these rules can lead to incorrect braking, maneuvering and handling of the vehicle as a whole. Moreover, the car can become unstable, which is not safe, both for the warrior and passengers, and for other participants in traffic.

In order to study this issue in more detail, you should refer to DSTU, namely to the section: Wheeled vehicles. Requirements for safety of technical condition and control methods ".

So, according to Article 121 of the Administrative Code of Ukraine, driving a vehicle, the technical condition of which does not correspond to the nomes and stipulated standards, is punishable by a fine, the amount of which can be from UAH 340. up to UAH 850 Moreover, repeated violation of the rules entails not only a fine, but also deprivation of rights for up to 6 months and arrest for up to 10 days.

5. How to appeal a fine

Quite often, disagreements arise between vehicle drivers and traffic police inspectors regarding the existence of the fact of an offense. In this regard, the legislation provides for the possibility of appealing against a fine and a protocol drawn up by a traffic police officer on the commission of an offense.

In order to do this, first of all, you need to familiarize yourself with the protocol in detail and enter your comments on the spot. Be sure to ask the inspector Traffic police a copy of this protocol.

Next, you should seek help from a lawyer who will be able to advise you on the process of appealing a fine, but also on issues related to the availability of the necessary documents for submission to higher authorities. You can write a complaint to the prosecutor's office, which must be considered, and feedback must also be provided in a timely manner. You can also file a claim in court. The legal process, depending on the circumstances, can take not only a lot of time, but also require money.

6. The legality of giving a bribe

There are also some drivers who are used to "resolve all issues on the spot." It should be noted right away that the concept of the legality of giving a bribe does not exist in Ukraine. This is due to the fact that the law provides for punishment, both for giving a bribe and for receiving it.

Thus, article 369 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine provides for a punishment for giving a bribe, which manifests itself in the form of a fine of UAH 3,400. up to UAH 8,500 or restraint of liberty for a term of 2 to 5 years.

But article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine provides for punishment for an official who received a bribe in any form. Thus, the fine is from UAH 12,750. up to UAH 25,500 or imprisonment, the term of which is from 2 to 5 years, with the deprivation of the right to hold certain positions for up to 3 years.

7. Situation in other countries

In most European countries, a fine is provided for the use of winter tires in summer, but there are also countries where there are no such restrictions, moreover, drivers have the right to decide on which tires at what time of the year it is better for them to drive.

At the same time, in almost all countries there are clearly established deadlines when drivers are required to use winter tires.

For example, in Austria from November 1 to April 15, drivers are required to use winter tires, while the minimum tread depth should be 4 millimeters. In Belarus, this period is limited from December 1 to March 1, in Lithuania from November 1 to April 1, in Slovenia from November 15 to March 15, and in the Czech Republic from November 1 to March 31.

There are also countries in which the use of seasonal rubber is not compulsory, but at the same time there are restrictions on the use of studded rubber or even a ban on it. These countries include Belgium, Hungary, Great Britain, Denmark, Spain, the Netherlands, Poland, in Italy the use of winter tires is mandatory only in certain regions.

But in Germany, the law stipulates that the car must be "shod" with wheels that correspond to weather conditions.

As you can see, each country has its own rules and before going abroad in your car (regardless of the season), you should study not only the requirements for the car, but also local legislation.

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It was planned to travel by car on the route Moscow - Novozybkov - Brest - Warsaw - Krakow - Minsk - Moscow. But the implementation of this plan was prevented by our lack of information about the fact that studded tires are prohibited in Poland!

I have long dreamed of a Grand Tour of Europe, so get in the car and go slowly towards Europe and get to Sicily or Gibraltar, and better to go there and there and somewhere else) But such a trip takes time from a month or more, therefore while we continue to dream. It became necessary to go to the city of Novozybkov, which is located in the south-west of the Bryansk region, not far from the border of Belarus and Ukraine. And this is half the way to Europe and it was decided to combine business with pleasure and travel by car for 7 days. The March holidays came to the rescue, plus three days of vacation and more!
The route was drawn up the following Moscow - Novozybkov - Brest - Warsaw - Krakow - Minsk - Moscow.
Most of the time was supposed to be spent in Poland. First of all, you won't go too far in 7 days, I didn't want to make long journeys. Secondly, they have never been to Poland before (an hour-long connection at the Warsaw airport going from Nice to Moscow does not count). I would like to add the 43rd country to the list of visited countries.

Moscow - Novozybkov 600 km 1 night
Novozybkov-Brest 600 km 1 night
Brest - Warsaw 210 km 2 nights
Warsaw-Krakow 300 km 3 nights
Krakow-Minsk 800 km 1 night
Minsk-Moscow 720 km

The main time was planned to be spent in two cities - Warsaw, the capital of modern Poland and the city of Krakow, the historical capital.

We arrived in Brest in the evening and checked into a hotel Hermitage hotel... I liked the hotel very much, far from being the most budgetary by the standards of Brest, but worth the money. According to the plan for the next day, in the morning we had an inspection of the Brest Fortress memorial, a personal organized excursion was planned in advance by phone. Further inspection of the Museum of Steam Locomotives (optional) and a walk in the center of Brest. Later it turned out that in Brest there is an attraction unknown to us. A live attraction is a lamplighter who has been lighting kerosene lanterns located at the beginning of Sovetskaya Street for many years.
Leaving the hotel, we asked the staff at the reception to look at the situation at the border checkpoints and assess the wait in the queue to cross the border. We were told to wait three hours. They made a forecast that the queue would dissipate by the evening. This was in line with our plans. There is a very convenient resource of the border service of Belarus, where you can see the workload of points. The number of cars and trucks for leaving and entering the republic is indicated, as well as an online web camera, and you can see the situation with your own eyes in real time. General information on all checkpoints can be found at http://gpk.gov.by/maps/ochered.php. The information on it is accurate, it was used more than once.

An attempt to cross the Polish border with studded tires.

The border point through which it was decided to cross the border is called Brest Avtodorozhniy and it is located practically within the city limits, from the city center by car without traffic jams, no more than 10 minutes. The alternative checkpoint is called Domachevo and is located 50 kilometers from Brest. It can be used if at the Brest queue point. In our case, there was no queue and we decided to take a shortcut.
We moved towards the border at about 20-00 Belarusian time, which, however, is equal to Moscow time.
Before crossing the border with Poland, they decided to refuel; Belorusneft was found 300 meters from the checkpoint. Economically, it makes a lot of sense. Fuel in Belarus costs about 120,000 Belarusian rubles, which is approximately 42 Russian rubles.

Looking ahead, it was not possible to find out how much it costs in Poland. We managed to find out how much it costs in Lithuania - about 1 euro per liter, which at the current exchange rate was 80 rubles. Thus, the difference is almost 2 times. By the way, the Europeans, unlike us, have become beneficiaries of cheap oil. Traveling earlier in Europe by car, depending on the country, a liter of fuel fluctuated between 1.3-1.7 euros, something like that I expected to see. But no, fuel in Europe has fallen in price! It is true only for Europeans and tourists from countries that have good money. For us, the price has risen, let's take the previous average price of 1.5 euros, multiply by 45 and get 67.5 rubles per liter. And now 80!
Having filled a full tank, we moved to the border.

The first time it smelled fried on the first cordon. For understanding, crossing the border on the Belarusian side occurs in the following way. The first stage is the checkpoint, where you need to show the passports of everyone crossing the car, the registration certificate for the car, a green card. Ask to open the trunk. Instead, they give out paper. Which, together with all the aforementioned documents, must be presented further, first at passport control, then at customs control and then at a similar checkpoint when leaving the Polish territory. At this checkpoint, you need to return the paper issued at the first.
At passport control, all passengers must get out of the car and go to the window in which the border guard is sitting. So the border guard at the first checkpoint, looking at our wheels, expressed the opinion that they would not let us in on studded tires. To the question: "Why would that be ?!" He replied that they have such laws. Did it seem absurd to me? since I have only heard before? that, on the contrary, in Europe, winter tires are required and for its absence they are fined.
When, at passport control, the second border guard said that they would not let us into Poland, this already made me think hard. He confirmed that in Poland there is a law prohibiting the use of studded tires, it is pointless to drive, the Poles turn 95% of cars. 95% is not 100% and we naturally decided to try our luck, the route was planned, moreover, in Warsaw, an hour earlier, through booking.com, two rooms were booked at the hotel for two nights at a non-refundable rate. Having learned the decision, the border guard said that he had no reason not to let us out of your business, and suggested not to get upset in case of return, to stay in Belarus and eat potato pancakes!)

Optimism regarding border crossing has already diminished and not crossing the border did not seem so incredible anymore.

After passing the four above-described circles of the Belarusian cordon, the barrier opened and we entered the bridge - the neutral territory between Belarus and Poland. Having passed the bridge, they ran into the Polish border, the barrier opened quickly and the buildings of the Polish passport control and customs loomed in front. When there were about 20 meters left, the border guard came out and began to look in our direction, and in particular at the wheels. The hope “And suddenly they won't notice” began to recede into another world.
When we arrived at the checkpoint, the Polish border guard asked where we were going and how many we were. Then he collected all the passports, asked the driver - that is, I got out of the car and open the trunk. At that moment, hope got a threadlike pulse, and what if we are all the same lucky ones who, according to the Belarusian officer, are passing by ?! Only this thought flashed, Pole, gives out the following: “I have to, sir to upset you, you will not be able to enter Poland, because you have rings on your wheels (as the Poles call thorns)” To my timid objections, “How is that ?! We did not know! What to do?!" He replied that even if he lets us in, the very first policeman who stops us will force us to pay a fine and will not allow us to operate the car until the violation is eliminated, that is, until the rubber is replaced or the wheels are studded. Drive back to Belarus, solve the problem with the tires we have banned and come back. Many do this. He said wait and went into the room with our passports. He was not there for about 15 minutes, at that time I tried to abandon the recently booked hotel through booking.ru. And in this matter, other Poles have rested their horns - they refused to cancel the reservation without a fine. This will be discussed in a separate post. In the process of waiting, the crazy thought flashed again: “What if they let me in!”. The border guard returned, gave the passports. A barrier opened in front of us ... ... Hope came to life again! ... ... and he said: "I will accompany you", I hardly thought to Warsaw and Nadezhda finally ordered "to live a long time." Having driven into the gate and drove 15-20 meters behind the border guard in front. We got to the U-turn and he gave us a vector back to the Belarusian checkpoint.

What to do if you were not allowed into Poland on studded tires ?!

The question immediately arose "What to do next?" and look for certain options to continue the planned route to Poland or radically change it? The obstacle arose quite unexpectedly and there was no contingency plan. I had to invent it during the play.

Before returning, there were illusions that since they were not allowed, we would drive back to Belarus without a queue and according to an accelerated procedure. Illusions quickly dispelled I had to stand in a queue (well that not a big one) and go through all the formalities in full at the 4 above-described points of the Belarusian cordon. While we were passing them, I tried to find out from the border guards what can be done in such a situation. In short, their advice boiled down to the following, that there are tire service points in the city where you can allegedly take replacement tires, change your shoes, and change your shoes on the way back. This kind of rental. Well, or an option to pull out the thorns. The first option seemed unrealistic on the one hand, on the other, I thought why not, if there is demand, perhaps there is also a supply.

The first tire fitting on a tip from a border guard was found 300 meters from the first barrier of the Belarusian border, next to the gas station where we refueled before the failed attempt to cross the border. At that time, it was already about 10 pm and the tire service was closed. But there turned out to be an open pavilion of an insurance company that sells green cards, and there they suggested the location of a round-the-clock tire fitting, located one and a half to two kilometers from this place. We went there immediately.

The workshop really worked and the master on duty, after listening to our story, popularly explained our options. It turns out that the tire rental service announced by the Belarusian border guards does not exist. It so happens that people buy new rubber (if they are on sale, for example they did not have ours), change their shoes into it, leave the studded one for storage, and on the way back they take it or throw the tires back. This option might suit someone, but for this, firstly, the tires must be available, and secondly, the plans must include returning by the same route and there must be a place in the car to transport a set of 4 tires. This is not our option. By the way, later we learned at the Belarusian customs office that used rubber is prohibited from being imported into the country. So those who want to take it with them may have problems crossing the border. I suspect the Poles, too, will not be very happy about such a difficult recycling of potential waste.
Another option is wheel studding, that is, removing the studs from the rubber. The master estimated the services at 5,000 Russian rubles and 1 hour of work.
Then I seriously thought, the tires have already served 3 seasons. According to the master, it was still possible to ride it for at least a season. On the one hand, the tires are not new, to give up and change plans is not my credo, and despite the fact that we were not very friendly at the border and the hotel behaved like a redneck, I continued to want to go to Poland.
On the other hand, studding is like ruining the tires and automatically next season getting on the not small cost of 19-inch tires for an SUV, plus at the moment for the services of a master. Also, there were thoughts about the way back, and although the snow disappeared almost immediately after Gomel, and the temperature in the area was about 8 degrees, but there was an understanding that winter was not over in Russia yet. Comparing all the factors, it was decided not to spike the wheels and refuse to travel to Poland. What to do next, the question remained open. In order to solve it, we needed the Internet and we decided to discuss further plans for dinner at the Heritage hotel bar, where we spent the night before.

Having reached the Internet, the first thing we did was to save money for a hotel booked in Warsaw at a non-refundable rate. How this is done will be written in a separate post.

How to enter Poland with studded tires.

Then they began to decide on the further route, where to move next. After we were deployed on the Polish border, the impression was that we would not be able to get to Europe on winter studded tires. The European Union - the same rules for everyone, we thought. But googling found out that this is not so! In some European countries, like in Poland, studded tires are prohibited, in some they are allowed, and in some Scandinavian countries they are simply mandatory!

Information about this is presented on the website http://autotraveler.ru/spravka/winter-tires-in-europe.html#.VvGkvniYJE4

For example, in the Baltic countries neighboring Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, which are also members of the European Union, thorns are allowed!

Penalty for studded tires in Poland

The fine is about 100 zlotys, which is about 25 euros. On the one hand, this is not such a large amount, but the police can withdraw the driver's license and drive the car to the fenced parking lot. And this is a completely different and more unpleasant story. They can let go if the cause is eliminated on the spot, that is, you have to rip out the thorns. Either way, this will lead to wasted time and financial damage.

If you really need to go to Poland, then, since there is no border post on the border of these countries, since both are in the European Union.

They say that the Polish organizes pickets a few kilometers from the Lithuanian border and they are especially not indifferent to cars with Russian plates.

If you stopped in Poland, through another EU country in which thorns are allowed, then it is better to leave through it. When leaving the European Union on spikes across the Polish border, the border guards will find fault and you will still have the same fine and tire spikes.

In our case, we just changed our plans, instead of Poland we went to Lithuania.
Based on the time we had, distance and interest in the country, our choice fell on Lithuania. In this country we were just passing through and the only place we visited was the city of Trakai with its wonderful castle standing on one of the islands in the middle of a large lake. This time we decided to drive to the Baltic Sea coast and visit a unique place - the natural wonder of the Kush Spit or in Lithuanian Neringa. On the way there, it was planned to see the sights of Lithuania, which will meet along the way.

When the plan was formed, it was already well after midnight and it was decided to spend one more night in Brest. The Heritage hotel in which we spent the night the night before and in the bar of which we had dinner did not offer a normal price for accommodation either through booking or from the counter directly. We decided to spend the night at the Vesta Hotel, located next to the Heritage Hotel, literally 200 meters from it. I noticed him when we were returning from the border. The hotel is on the booking, but it was not possible to book through it for this night, since the next day had already come and it was possible to issue a room only from the day 14-00 of the coming day. At the hotel counter they gave a price similar to booking. Review of the Vesta hotel.

In the morning we drove towards the Lithuanian border.

Winter road conditions in Northern and Central (mountainous) Europe, especially in winter recreation areas, become much more difficult. Snow and ice formation on roads are common during this time. As a result, the grip of the tires with the road deteriorates.

Some countries require drivers always used winter tires at certain times of the year. In other countries, the need for use arises only under certain road conditions. And somewhere it is advisory in nature.

The situation with studded tires is much more complicated. In most European countries, they prohibited to use due to their destructive effect on the roadway. Instead, it is sometimes allowed to use summer tires fitted with snow chains.

Rules for the use of winter tires in Europe

Winter tires are not compulsory in all European countries. But even in these countries, driving on some roads with summer tires without snow chains may be prohibited. In addition, winter tires must be marked with one of the signs M + S, M.S, M-S, M & S and have a minimum tread depth of at least 3 mm, and in some countries 4 mm.

On the map below, you can clearly see in which countries in winter the use of winter tires is mandatory all the time, and in which only when appropriate weather conditions occur.

Weather conditions are considered wintry when there is snow, ice or slush on any part of the road. And also if the road is wet combined with temperatures around or below 0 degrees.

Summer tires with snow chains

As an alternative to winter tires, summer tires can be used in conjunction with snow chains. Chains must be installed on at least two drive wheels. However, chains are only allowed if the road is completely covered with snow or ice.

Therefore, if you have summer tires on your car, then you should definitely carry snow chains in the trunk during long trips.

- the use of winter tires is mandatory

- mandatory under appropriate weather conditions

- winter tires are optional

In which countries is studded tires prohibited?

Studded tires are banned in most Eastern European countries - Poland, Romania, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Serbia, Macedonia, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, as well as Turkey, Germany, the Netherlands and Portugal.

allowed forbidden

As you can see from the map, you can easily travel to the Baltic states and the Nordic countries on studded tires. But it will be very difficult to get to the ski resorts of Austria, Italy, Switzerland and France.

General requirements for winter equipment in Europe

The table shows the requirements for winter and studded tires for vehicles with a total weight not exceeding 3.5 tons.

The data in the table can be sorted in ascending / descending order by clicking on the column heading.

Requirements for winter and studded tires for passenger cars in Europe

The country	Winter tires	Studded tires	Anti-skid chains
Austria	necessarily 01.11 - 15.04	allowed 01.10 - 31.05	allowed 01.10 - 31.05
Azerbaijan	no legal requirement	allowed
Albania	no legal requirement	allowed	allowed 01.11 - 30.04
Andorra	no legal requirement	forbidden	allowed
Armenia	necessarily 01.12 - 01.03	allowed	allowed
Belarus	necessarily 01.12 - 01.03	allowed	allowed
Belgium	no legal requirement	forbidden	allowed
Bulgaria	necessarily 15.11 - 01.03	forbidden	allowed 01.11 - 01.03
Bosnia and Herzegovina	necessarily 15.11 - 15.04	forbidden	allowed 01.11 - 15.04
Great Britain	no legal requirement	allowed	allowed
Hungary	no legal requirement	forbidden	allowed
Germany	necessarily	forbidden	allowed
Greece	no legal requirement	allowed	allowed
Georgia	no legal requirement	allowed	allowed
Denmark	no legal requirement	allowed 01.11 - 15.04	allowed
Ireland	no legal requirement	allowed	allowed
Iceland	necessarily 01.11 - 14.04	allowed 01.11 - 14.04	allowed
Spain	no legal requirement	allowed 15.11 - 31.03	allowed
Italy	no legal requirement	allowed 15.11 - 15.03	allowed
Cyprus	no legal requirement	allowed	allowed
Latvia	necessarily 01.12 - 01.03	allowed 01.10 - 30.04	allowed
Lithuania	necessarily 10.11 - 31.03	allowed 01.11 - 09.04	allowed
Luxembourg	necessarily	allowed 01.12 - 31.03	allowed
North Macedonia	necessarily 15.11 - 15.03	forbidden	allowed 15.10 - 15.03
Malta	no legal requirement
Moldavia	necessarily 01.12 - 01.03	allowed 01.12 - 01.03
Netherlands	no legal requirement	forbidden	forbidden
Norway	no legal requirement	allowed 01.11 - 15.04	allowed
Poland	no legal requirement	forbidden	allowed
Portugal	no legal requirement	forbidden	allowed
Romania	necessarily 01.11 - 31.03	forbidden	allowed
Serbia	necessarily 01.11 - 01.04	forbidden	allowed
Slovakia	necessarily 15.11 - 31.03	forbidden	allowed
Slovenia	necessarily 15.11 - 15.03	forbidden	allowed
Turkey	necessarily	forbidden	allowed
Ukraine	no legal requirement	allowed	allowed
Finland	necessarily 01.12 - 01.03	allowed 01.11 - 15.04	allowed
France	no legal requirement	allowed 10.11 - 31.03	allowed
Croatia	necessarily 15.11 - 15.04	forbidden	allowed
Montenegro	necessarily 15.11 - 01.04	forbidden	allowed