Are studless winter tyres good enough in Sweden?
What counts as a winter tyre, and where studs make a difference.
Short answer
Yes, studless winter tyres meet the Swedish winter tyre rule if they carry the alpine mountain and snowflake symbol, although studded tyres grip better on ice. On snow and bare road, Trafikverket says studless tyres grip as well as studded ones.
Why
- According to Transportstyrelsen, since 1 December 2024 a studless winter tyre must be marked with the alpine symbol (3PMSF) to count as a winter tyre.
- Trafikverket says studded tyres give better grip on ice, while studless tyres have equal grip on snow and bare road.
- According to VTI, the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute, studless tyres made for Central European conditions are consistently worse in snow and ice conditions.
Details
The winter tyre rule applies from 1 December to 31 March when there is snow, ice, slush or frost on any part of the road, and the tread depth must be at least 3 mm. Trafikverket says that on a car with stability control, good studless tyres made for Nordic conditions with 4–5 mm of tread give good conditions for handling different road surfaces. For the weather side of the season, see when winter starts in Sweden, and for the full tyre picture read winter tyres and studs in Sweden.
Tip
Look for the alpine symbol, a mountain with a snowflake, on the tyre before you rely on studless tyres, because Transportstyrelsen says an unmarked studless tyre no longer counts as a winter tyre. Ask for tyres made for Nordic conditions, since that is what Trafikverket's advice refers to.
What may differ
For an older car without stability control, Trafikverket recommends studded winter tyres if you often drive on winter road conditions, meaning ice and hard-packed snow.
Common misconception
Only studded tyres count as real winter tyres in Sweden.
What actually happens
Transportstyrelsen says passenger cars can meet the winter tyre requirement with studded or studless winter tyres, and studless tyres need the alpine symbol.
People also ask
- Are studless winter tyres enough in Sweden?
- Are friction tyres good enough for Swedish winters?
Sources
- Transportstyrelsen: New requirements for studless tyresChecked at:
- Transportstyrelsen: Winter tyresChecked at:
- Trafikverket: TyresChecked at:
- VTI: Winter tyresChecked at:
This answer is for reference only. Rules can change, so check Transportstyrelsen before you travel.
Winter tyres and studsRelated questions
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A passenger car is inspected first within 36 months of the month it was put into traffic.
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Sixt says its rental cars may be taken from Sweden to Denmark, Finland and Norway, while Hertz and Avis require written permission before you drive outside Sweden.
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Hertz accepts debit cards, but a renter paying with one must also show a credit card at pickup, so a credit card is the safe choice.
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