Winter tyres in Romania: what the law says

When they are required

You must drive on winter tyres when the public road is covered with snow, ice or black ice. There is no calendar date. The law doesn't ban winter tyres in summer.

The fine falls in penalty class IV, which is between 9 and 20 fine points (puncte-amendă). The value of a point changes, so ask the Romanian Police for the exact amount.

What markings they need

• The M+S, M.S or M&S marking. The mountain-and-snowflake symbol (3PMSF) shows the tyre has been tested on snow.
• A tread depth of at least 4 mm is recommended in winter, and the general legal minimum is 1.6 mm.
• The same type of tyre on all four wheels is the safest choice.
• Properly marked all-season tyres are accepted, but not all of them behave the same in winter.

When buying a second-hand car

• Check the manufacture date. The DOT code has four digits: the first two are the week, the next two the year. Tyres older than 6–8 years lose their qualities even if the tread is deep.
• Wear on one edge only points to incorrect wheel alignment.
• Ask whether the car comes with a second set of wheels. It is a good argument in negotiation.

If you travel abroad

Austria, Germany and other countries have their own winter rules. Read them before the trip. Snow chains are useful in the mountains even where they are not required.