Winter tyres will significantly improve the car's handling in winter road conditions.
Winter tyres must be fitted on all four wheels.
Only use winter tyres of the correct type approved for your vehicle.
Please note that the maximum permissible speed for winter tyres may be lower than for summer tyres.
Also note that winter tyres are no longer effective when the tread is worn down.
After fitting the wheels you must always check the tyre pressures. The correct tyre pressures are listed on the sticker on the end face of the driver's door.
In winter road conditions winter tyres will considerably improve the car's handling. Due to their type of construction (width, rubber compound, tread pattern), summer tyres give less grip on ice and snow. This applies particularly to vehicles equipped with wide section tyres or high speed tyres (code letters H, V or Y on the sidewall).
Only use winter tyres of the correct type approved for your vehicle. The sizes of the winter tyres approved for your vehicle are listed in the vehicle's documents (e.g. EC Certificate of Conformity or COC document 1)). The vehicle documents vary depending on the country in which the vehicle is registered. Also refer to Link.
Winter tyres are no longer fully effective when the tread is worn down to a depth of 4 mm.
The performance of winter tyres is also severely impaired by ageing, even if the tread is still much deeper than 4 mm.
Winter tyres are subject to the following maximum speed limits according to speed rating code letter: WARNING!
| Speed rating code letter Link |
Maximum speed limit |
|---|---|
| Q |
160 km/h |
| S |
180 km/h |
| T |
190 km/h |
| H |
210 km/h |
| V |
240 km/h
(note restrictions) |
In Germany vehicles capable of exceeding these speeds must have an appropriate sticker attached so it is visible to the driver. Suitable stickers are available from qualified workshops. Please observe any other regulations applying in other countries.
"All-weather" tyres can also be used instead of winter tyres.
Using winter tyres with V-rating
Please note that the generally applicable 240 km/h speed rating for winter tyres with the letter "V" is subject to technical restrictions; the maximum permissible speed for your vehicle may be significantly lower. The maximum speed limit for tyres with a V-rating depends directly on the maximum axle weights for your car and on the listed weight rating of the tyres being used.
It is best to contact a qualified workshop to check the maximum speed which is permissible for the V-rated tyres fitted on your car on the basis of this information.
Exceeding the maximum speed permitted for the winter tyres fitted on your car can cause tyre failure, resulting in a loss of control of the vehicle – risk of accident!
For the sake of the environment
Summer tyres should be fitted again as soon as possible; they give better handling on roads which are free of snow and ice. Summer tyres produce less rolling noise, do not wear down as quickly and, most importantly, reduce fuel consumption.
1) COC = certificate of conformity