Should I still fit winter tyres?

We had very little snow in the last few years, and I came through the winter well without fitting winter tyres. So I also didn’t change the tyres this year as well. Given the recent heavy snowfalls, should I now change my tyres? What do I risk by driving without winter tyres?

If you do avoid fitting winter tyres, you’re saving in the wrong place. Unlike some neighbouring countries, there is no general obligation for winter tyres in Switzerland. But driving without them can still have unpleasant consequences for you. Depending on the insurance, there’s a risk of reductions in benefits in the event of a claim., as well as fines from the police.

Although the comprehensive insurance (Kaskoversicherung) basically covers damage to one's own car caused by an accident, the damage to a third-party vehicle is covered by the motor vehicle liability insurance (Motorfahrzeug-Haftpflichtversicherung). But it’s not only the damage to the vehicle that plays a role here, but also the cause of the accident and the condition of the vehicle. And this also includes the tyres.

In the event of an accident, the insurance company can consider your behaviour as grossly negligent if you are travelling on a snow-covered road with summer tyres, or with worn winter tyres. It can therefore reduce the benefits it pays, or reclaim them from you. In this case, you would have to pay some of the damage yourself. In addition, you can be fined in accordance with the Road Traffic Act if your vehicle is not operating in a safe condition in wintry road conditions.

René Harlacher, Chief Underwriting Officer,
Zurich Schweiz, www.zurich.ch

October to Easter
Motorists should therefore mount winter tyres every winter. As a rule of thumb from O to E, that is, from October to Easter. Winter tyres not only provide more grip on snow-covered roads and smooth ice, allowing for improved traction, but also in general at low temperatures.

There should also be a sufficient profile depth: the more worn the profile is, the worse the grip on the ground and the longer the braking distance. For this reason, winter tyres must also be replaced regularly. You should fit four identical tyres of the same age, which should usually not be older than four years. Although the legal minimum profile depth is only 1.6 millimetres, the safety-relevant driving characteristics are already significantly reduced earlier than this. Winter tyres should therefore be replaced if the tread depth is less than 4 millimetres.

What is also often forgotten: before driving off, the windows, the lights and also the number plates must be cleared of snow and ice. In particular, any snow on the roof has to be removed, otherwise you could also be fined for this. In addition, it is important that the windows (the front and front side-windows) provide sufficient visibility. It’s is not enough to only clear a small peephole. The more your visibility is restricted when driving, the greater the risk of accidents. In addition, you are risking a substantial fine of several hundred francs and, depending on the circumstances, and even a prison sentence.