Are winter tyres mandatory in the Netherlands?

Are they mandatory?

No. The Netherlands has no winter tyre requirement. What applies all year round is a minimum tread depth of 1.6 mm, for summer and winter tyres alike.

So are they worth it?

Below about 7 °C, summer tyres lose grip. Winter and all-season tyres use a rubber compound that stays soft in the cold and brakes better on cold wet roads, snow and ice. If you drive a lot in winter or go skiing, the difference is big.

Winter, summer or all-season?

• Winter tyres: the best in cold, snow and ice. Need swapping twice a year.
• Summer tyres: the best in warm weather and summer rain.
• All-season tyres: the middle ground, on the car all year. A very common choice in the Dutch climate.

Driving to the snow?

Other countries have their own rules. In Germany, your car needs tyres suitable for winter when there are wintry conditions. In Austria, the minimum tread depth for winter tyres is 4 mm. Check the rules for your destination before you go.

When to replace them

The law requires 1.6 mm, but the ANWB recommends replacing winter tyres once the tread drops below 4 mm, because grip on snow and ice falls off sharply.

Sources: ANWB: profieldiepte