Updated on 14 October 2026. We review this guide every October.
Every autumn, our customers ask us when to fit their winter tyres and whether all-season tyres are enough in Belgium.
Here are our answers. Every figure is sourced at the bottom of the page.
✅ The key points in 30 seconds
- Fit your winter tyres when mornings drop below 7 °C. In Belgium, that is usually late October.
- In Belgium, no law requires winter tyres. In France, Germany and Luxembourg, rules apply depending on the area or the weather. In the Netherlands, none.
- An all-season tyre must carry the mountain and snowflake symbol (3PMSF) to count as a winter tyre in France and Germany.
- Of the 16 all-season tyres tested in 2026, only one gets a good overall score from Test-Achats. The model matters more than the category.
- Two sets of tyres cost you mainly in wheel changes: 135 to 295 € a year, depending on whether you store them at home or at the garage.
When should you fit winter tyres in Belgium?
Remember the 7 °C rule. Below that temperature, the rubber of a summer tyre hardens and loses grip. A winter tyre stays soft. Michelin puts it this way: for a tyre, winter starts at 7 °C. Test-Achats repeated the same rule on 10 October 2026.
In Uccle, the Royal Meteorological Institute's climate normals give an average minimum of 8.1 °C in October and 4.6 °C in November. Mornings therefore drop below 7 °C from late October. The daily average only gets there in late November (7.2 °C over the month). A simple reminder: the clocks go back on Sunday 25 October 2026.
Then adjust to how you drive:
- You leave early or come home late. You drive in the coldest hours. Fit your winter tyres from the first mornings below 7 °C, even if afternoons are still above 10 °C.
- You mostly drive during the day or at weekends. You can wait until the days also stay below 7 °C.
- You live or work in the Ardennes. Frost and snow arrive earlier there. Aim for mid-October.
- You are going skiing. Fit them before you leave, whatever the weather in Belgium.
When should you take them off? Luxembourg police recommend winter tyres from October to Easter. That is a good reference: Easter falls on 28 March 2027. Take them off when temperatures stay above 7 °C again. A winter tyre kept on in summer brakes less well and wears faster. We explain when to take off your winter tyres in a separate article.
Are winter tyres compulsory in Belgium? What the law says
Winter tyres are never compulsory in Belgium. They are not banned in summer either. Four rules still apply.
1. The speed rating. A winter tyre with a lower speed rating than the one specified for your car is tolerated from 1 October to 30 April. You must then stick a label inside the car, in the driver's field of view, showing the maximum speed of the tyres. Outside that period, these tyres are not allowed.
2. The same axle. The two tyres on the same axle must have the same characteristics. Test-Achats lists the brand, the size, the load and speed ratings, the tread pattern and the wear. A winter tyre and an all-season tyre on the same axle are therefore not compliant. In December 2025, the Traxio federation found wrong tyre combinations on 14.8 % of the cars studied, including 3.5 % with two tyre categories on the same axle.
3. Tread depth. The legal minimum is 1.6 mm. For a winter tyre, Test-Achats and the ADAC advise at least 4 mm. Below that, it clears water and slush poorly. In Austria, 4 mm is the legal minimum for a tyre to count as a winter tyre.
The vehicle inspection (contrôle technique) also checks your tyres: see our vehicle inspection preparation.
4. Studded tyres. You often read that they are banned in Belgium. The 1976 ministerial decree that governs them is still in force. They are allowed from 1 November to 31 March, on vehicles of up to 3.5 tonnes. They go on all wheels. Limits: 90 km/h on motorways and on roads with two or more lanes in each direction, 60 km/h elsewhere, with a "60 km" plate at the rear. They are banned in the Netherlands and Germany, apart from local exceptions, which makes them impractical as soon as you cross the border.
Winter tyres abroad: the rules in neighbouring countries
The rules of the country you drive in apply, whatever your number plate.
| Country | When it is compulsory | Accepted tyres | Fine |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | From 1 November to 31 March, in the mountain municipalities designated by the Loi Montagne II (34 departments, including the Vosges massif) | Winter or all-season tyres marked 3PMSF on all four wheels, or snow chains or snow socks in the boot. The M+S marking alone has not been enough since November 2024. | 135 € |
| Germany | In winter conditions: black ice, snow, slush, frost | Only tyres marked 3PMSF since 1 October 2024, on all four wheels | 60 to 120 € and a penalty point |
| Luxembourg | In winter conditions, on all four wheels | Winter or all-season tyres marked M+S or with the alpine symbol | 74 € |
| Netherlands | Never | All. Studded tyres are banned. | None for not having winter tyres |
| Belgium | Never | All, with the label if the speed rating is lower | None for not having winter tyres |
💡 Our advice: if you cross the border in winter, choose tyres marked with the mountain and snowflake symbol (3PMSF). They are accepted everywhere around Belgium.
Skiing in Austria: winter tyres are compulsory from 1 November to 15 April in winter conditions, on all wheels, with at least 4 mm of tread.
Winter or all-season tyres: what the tests show
An all-season tyre beats a summer tyre on snow and a winter tyre on hot roads. In their own season, it beats neither.
The gap lies between models. Test-Achats, the TCS and the ADAC published results in 2026 for the same 16 all-season tyres in 185/65 R15. For the TCS and the ADAC, the Continental AllSeasonContact 2 comes first, ahead of the Pirelli Cinturato All Season SF3 and the Michelin CrossClimate 2. Test-Achats gives a good overall score to only one tyre. It advises against nine, including the Bridgestone Weather Control A005 Evo and the Dunlop All Season 2. A big brand guarantees nothing.
The gaps are measured in metres. In 2025, the ADAC measured an 11-metre difference in wet braking: 31.3 m for the best all-season tyre, 42.6 m for the worst (225/45 R17). The TCS measured a gap of more than 12 km/h in the speed at which the car starts aquaplaning.
Test-Achats remains cautious. According to its expert, good summer and winter tyres changed on time are still the best option. All-season tyres mainly suit people who drive little and can leave the car at home on snowy days.
Cost per year: two sets or all-season tyres
The price of the tyres matters less than you might think. With two sets, each set runs half the year and lasts longer. The difference comes from changing wheels twice a year.
| Item | Summer and winter tyres | All-season tyres |
|---|---|---|
| Set of 4 tyres | Winter set, on top of the summer set: 200 to more than 650 €, excluding rims and labour | 200 to 400 € (205/55 R16). It runs all year and wears faster. |
| Wheel change on mounted rims, balancing included | 16.90 € per wheel, i.e. 67.60 € per change and 135.20 € a year | 0 € |
| Wheel change with storage at the garage for 6 months | 36.90 € per wheel, i.e. 295.20 € a year | 0 € |
| Second set of rims, with pressure sensors (TPMS) if your car has them | Depends on the car, on quotation. TPMS has been compulsory on new cars since November 2014. | 0 € |
| Without a second set of rims: removing and fitting the tyres | From 22.90 € per tyre up to 16 inches, i.e. 183.20 € a year | 0 € |
Tyre prices: Test-Achats. Wheel change prices: Auto5 price list, checked in October 2026. The 22.90 € per tyre rate applies to tyres bought from Auto5 (32.90 € otherwise). The storage price is for steel rims.
⚠️ The low-mileage trap: a tyre ages even when it is not driven. Manufacturers put its lifespan at 5 to 10 years. If you drive 7,000 km a year with two sets, each set covers 3,500 km a year. It will be too old long before it is worn out.
Which tyre suits your profile?
| Your profile | Our advice |
|---|---|
| Under 10,000 km a year, mostly in town or in Walloon Brabant, a car that can stay at home when it snows | An all-season tyre marked 3PMSF that ranks well in tests |
| Between 10,000 and 15,000 km a year | Summer tyres and winter tyres if you drive early in the morning or head to the snow. Otherwise, a 3PMSF all-season tyre that ranks well in tests. |
| Commuter, more than 15,000 km a year, early starts on the E411 or the Brussels ring road | Summer tyres and winter tyres |
| Home or work in the Ardennes | Summer tyres and winter tyres, fitted from mid-October |
| Skiing in the Alps or the Vosges | 3PMSF winter tyres, or 3PMSF all-season tyres with snow chains in the boot |
| SUV or electric car over 2 tonnes, rims of 19 inches and up | Check the load rating, often XL, and whether the 3PMSF marking exists in your size. Smaller winter rims are possible if that size appears on the certificate of conformity. |
| Classic car | No driving on salted roads. Prepare winter storage, battery included: see our article on classic car batteries. |
Used cars: what the tyres tell you
During our 118-point inspection, we look at all four tyres one by one.
- Tread depth on each tyre, on the inside and the outside. Wear on one side often points to a wheel alignment problem.
- The DOT date, to know the real age of the tyres.
- Type and marking: summer, winter or all-season, M+S or 3PMSF.
- Consistency per axle, so you do not buy a non-compliant car.
Reading the DOT date. On the sidewall, find the code that starts with DOT. Its last four digits give the date: the first two for the week, the last two for the year. "2423" means week 24 of 2023. Nothing on that side? Check the other sidewall. Beyond 5 years, have your tyres checked every year. At 10 years, replace them.
A car sold with a second set of winter wheels saves you 200 to more than 650 €. Always check the DOT date. A 2023 winter set with 6 mm of tread keeps its value. A 2016 set is worth almost nothing, even if it looks new.
Tyres that need replacing on a used car are a bargaining point. Factor the price of a full set into your offer: see the cost table above. If you are selling, state the DOT date and the remaining tread depth in the advert. A reassured buyer negotiates less. Also read our guide on how to sell your car well.
"With used cars, there are good deals to be had with a second set of wheels. But we always check the DOT date before giving it a value."
Nathan Fougnies, Garage Privé in Wavre
Browse our inspected used cars in Wavre.
Do your tyres need changing? We can have it done by one of our partners.
Free valuation and free advice
Buying or selling a car? Drop by in Wavre or call 010 56 13 80.
- Free valuation of your car, second set of wheels included
- Free advice on the type of tyre that suits how you drive
- Check of the tyres and DOT date before buying a used car
- Tyre change through one of our partners
👉 Book an appointment for advice
Frequently asked questions about winter tyres
No. No law requires them. If their speed rating is lower than the one specified for the car, they are tolerated from 1 October to 30 April, with a maximum speed label in the driver's field of view.
When mornings drop below 7 °C. In Belgium, that is usually late October. In the Ardennes, aim for mid-October.
At Auto5, a wheel change on mounted rims costs 16.90 € per wheel, balancing included, or 67.60 € per change. With storage for 6 months, count on 36.90 € per wheel. The details are in our cost table above. A Garage Privé partner can also fit your tyres.
Yes, if it carries the 3PMSF symbol, a three-peak mountain with a snowflake. The M+S marking alone has no longer been enough in Germany since 1 October 2024, nor in France since 1 November 2024. In Luxembourg, the M+S marking is still accepted.
Yes. Belgium requires no specific marking, neither M+S nor 3PMSF. The usual rules still apply: the same tyres on each axle and at least 1.6 mm of tread depth.
In Belgium, yes, if the two tyres on the same axle are identical. We advise against it: the front and rear no longer have the same grip. In France (Loi Montagne areas, unless you carry chains), Germany and Luxembourg, all four wheels must have winter tyres when the rule applies.
Read the last four digits of the DOT code: the week, then the year. "0921" means week 9 of 2021. Have your tyres checked every year after 5 years and replace them at 10 years.
Yes, from 1 November to 31 March, on vehicles of up to 3.5 tonnes and on all wheels. Speed is limited to 90 km/h on motorways and on roads with two or more lanes in each direction, and to 60 km/h elsewhere, with a "60 km" plate at the rear. They are banned in the Netherlands and Germany, apart from local exceptions.
About the author
Nathan Fougnies runs Garage Privé in Wavre with Louis. Since 2018, the agency has sold used cars on behalf of their owners, with a 118-point inspection and an optional warranty of up to 60 months.
Sources
- Test-Achats: when to switch from summer to winter tyres (10 October 2026, in French)
- Michelin: winter tyres (in French)
- RMI: October 2025 climate summary and Uccle normals (in French)
- RMI: November 2025 climate summary and Uccle normals (in French)
- Test-Achats: tyre regulations in Belgium (in French)
- Touring: winter tyres in Belgium, speed rating and label (in French)
- Highway Code: ministerial decree of 28 September 1976 on studded tyres (in French)
- L'Avenir: the Traxio study on tyre combinations (18 December 2025, in French)
- Test-Achats: recommended tread depth (in French)
- ADAC: compulsory winter tyres in Germany (in German)
- French government: chains or winter tyres compulsory in mountain areas (in French)
- Sécurité routière: compulsory winter equipment in France (in French)
- ADAC: winter tyres and snow chains in France, Luxembourg and Austria (in German)
- Guichet.lu: compulsory winter tyres in Luxembourg (in French)
- LuxToday: winter tyres in Luxembourg (in French)
- Dutch government: winter tyres and studded tyres in the Netherlands (in Dutch)
- ÖAMTC: compulsory winter tyres in Austria (in German)
- ÖAMTC: studded tyres in Austria's neighbouring countries (in German)
- Test-Achats: the best all-season tyres of 2026 (23 June 2026, in French)
- TCS: 2026 all-season tyre test (15 September 2026, in French)
- L'argus: the 2026 TCS and ADAC all-season tyre test (in French)
- Tyre Reviews: the 2025 ADAC all-season tyre test (in French)
- L'argus: the 2025 TCS all-season tyre test (in French)
- Test-Achats: the price of winter tyres (in French)
- Test-Achats: are all-season tyres any good? (in French)
- Auto5: wheel change and storage packages (in French)
- Schrader: TPMS legislation in Europe
- NHTSA: reading a tyre's DOT code
- Michelin: when to change your tyres (in French)