Winter is fast approaching, and that means that all car owners in Sweden must keep an eye on the calendar.
One of the most critical dates is December 1.
You must do this before December 1
As of December 1, the car must roll on winter tires to be legal to use, according to police website.
The exception is if there are no winter road conditions. Then it is still allowed to drive on summer tyres.
The requirement for winter tires to be on the car applies until March 31, 2025, when it is again permitted to drive on summer tires.
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Two types of winter tires
When it comes to winter tires, there are two main types to choose from.
One is studless winter tires, also called friction tires. These are approved for use all year round.
As the friction tires have a relatively soft rubber compound, they are not recommended in summer, as they become very soft in the heat and therefore wear quickly and perform poorly.
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Then you can change to studded tires
The other option is studded tires, which provide better grip on winter road conditions but also wear more on the road.
These are not approved for use all year round, but only in winter. This year, you have been allowed to drive on studded tires regardless of road conditions from October 1, and you must have changed back to tires without studs by April 15 at the latest.
According to the police website, the exception is if there are or are expected to be winter road conditions.
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New rules for 2024
On December 1, car owners don’t just have to make sure they fit their winter tires. This year, they also have to check that the winter tires are of the right type.
Those who drive on studless winter tires must ensure that they are equipped with a new symbol in the form of an Alpine peak.
If the tires do not have this symbol, they are no longer approved as winter tires and must be replaced.
You can read more about this here.