If you do not equip your car with these new tires, you risk a fine of 135 euros and immobilization of the vehicle.

© AmirMahdi Mohammadi/Unsplash

The State had postponed several times, the law has now come into force. Since November 1, 2024, new regulations require motorists to equip their vehicles with new tires during the winter period. Gone are the days when tires with only the M+S (Mud + Snow) marking were sufficient. Now, Only 3PMSF (Three Peak Mountain Snow Flake) certified tires will be recognized as compliant. This certification, symbolized by a logo representing three mountain peaks with a snowflake, guarantees optimal performance on roads damaged by snow or ice.

However, motorists have two options to comply: either equip their vehicle with four 3PMSF certified winter tires, or have snow chains or socks that allow at least two drive wheels to be equipped. For heavy goods vehicles with trailers or semi-trailers, the requirements are even stricter: they must have chains, even if they are equipped with winter tyres.

135 euros fine in the event of an infringement

This obligation applies to all vehicles with four wheels or more: light vehicles, utility vehicles, camper vans, coaches, buses and heavy goods vehicles. The areas concerned are also clearly identified by specific road signs, installed at the entrances and exits of the regulated areas. A sign indicates the period of application, from 1 November to 31 March.

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The prefects of the departments concerned, in collaboration with local elected officials, have drawn up a precise list of municipalities subject to this obligation. This measure covers all of the French massifs: the Alps, Corsica, the Massif Central, the Jura Massif, the Pyrenees and the Vosges Massif. Appropriate signage is put in place to inform users, a necessary condition for making the measure enforceable.

Law enforcement officers may carry out checks and penalize offenders with a fine of 135 euross. More than just a fine, failure to comply with these regulations may also result in the vehicle being immobilized or being banned from accessing mountainous areas, particularly in difficult weather conditions. It is therefore better to comply in order to have a trouble-free skiing holiday.

This new regulation aims above all to improve road safety in winter and to smooth traffic flow in mountainous areas. It responds to the many incidents observed in previous years, where poorly equipped vehicles found themselves in difficulty, sometimes causing significant traffic jams.

• M+S tires are no longer sufficient: only 3PMSF-certified tires or chains will be accepted from November 1, 2024
• The measure concerns 34 mountainous departments and all vehicles with four wheels or more
• Offenders are liable to a fine of 135 euros and the possible immobilization of their vehicle

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