Since the promulgation of the Mountain Law in 2021, motorists living in several departments must equip their car with specific tires. Next year, the regulations on certain tires will change…
Another tire change on your car is looming for you next year. And for good reason, during the winter period, which for the authorities extends from November 1 to March 31, many motorists are forced to equip their cars accordingly, either with winter tires, snow chains or snow socks. The people affected are those who live in mountainous regions or who go there for skiing holidays. It is the Mountain Law, promulgated in 2021, which imposed this obligation with the aim of improving traffic on the roads and the safety of users. But what you probably don’t know is that the regulations are about to change on certain points, from 2024.
Departments where equipment is mandatory
The law in question, also called the winter obligation, only applies in certain departments in France, located in mountainous areas (Alps, Corsica, Massif central, Jura, Pyrenees and Vosges). There are 34 of them and each prefect must define in advance the list of municipalities in which equipment is compulsory. Among them, we find:
- Ain (01)
- Allier (03)
- Alpes-de-Haute-Provence (04)
- Hautes-Alpes (05)
- Alpes-Martimes (06)
- Ardèche (07)
- Ariège (09)
- Aude (11)
- Aveyron (12)
- Cantal (15)
- Doubs (25)
- Drôme (26)
- Haute-Garonne (31)
- Isère (38)
- Jura (39)
- Loire (42)
- Haute-Loire (43)
- Lozère (48)
- Moselle (57)
- Puy-de-Dôme (63)
- Pyrénées-Atlantiques (64)
- Hautes-Pyrénées (65)
- Pyrénées-Orientales (66)
- Bas-Rhin (67)
- Haut-Rhin (68)
- Rhône (69)
- Haute-Saône (70)
- Savoie (73)
- Haute-Savoie (74)
- Tarn (81)
- Var (83)
- Vaucluse (84)
- Vosges (88)
- Territory of Belfort (90)
A new rule from November 1, 2024
The upcoming change can be seen in the level of vehicle equipment tolerated. Until now, as indicated on the Public Service site, four-wheeled vehicles (which includes light vehicles, utility vehicles, motorhomes, coaches, buses and heavy goods vehicles) are required to have, at choice, “metal snow chains or snow socks” to be installed on at least two drive wheels, or 4 winter tires “mounted on at least 2 wheels of each axle”.
These winter tires are currently recognizable thanks to the markings “M+S”, “MS” Or “M&S” or by the Alpine symbol “3PMSF”. But from November 1, 2024only tires identified by the “3PMSF alpine symbol” and one of the markings “M+S”, “MS” or “M&S” will be permitted. If you have 4 season tires, these will not be considered winter tires, although they have the stamping “3PMSF”Or “M+S”. Which therefore means that some will have to re-equip themselves for winter 2024. In the event of non-compliance with the rules, and if the government decides to introduce fines during checks, you risk a fine of 135 euros.