When does the winter tyre requirement for trucks apply in Austria?

For trucks of categories N2 and N3 from 1 November to 15 April, regardless of the weather: winter tyres at least on the wheels of one drive axle (KFG 1967 § 102 Abs. 8a Z 1).

Do trucks in Austria have to carry snow chains?

Yes. Vehicles of categories M2, M3, N2 and N3 must carry suitable snow chains for at least two drive wheels from 1 November to 15 April (KFG 1967 § 102 Abs. 9).

How deep must the tread of truck winter tyres be?

For vehicles over 3,500 kg, at least 5 mm for radial tyres and 6 mm for cross-ply tyres, if the tyres are used as winter tyres under § 102 Abs. 8a KFG (KDV 1967 § 4 Abs. 4 Z 5).

What penalty applies in Austria?

A breach of the KFG is an administrative offence with a fine of up to €10,000; § 134 does not specify a separate amount for the winter tyre requirement (KFG 1967 § 134 Abs. 1).

Winter tyre requirement for trucks in Austria

What applies

Requirements by vehicle category
Vehicles	Period	Requirement	Legal basis
Trucks N2, N3 and motor vehicles derived from them	01/11–15/04	Winter tyres at least on the wheels of one drive axle	§ 102 Abs. 8a Z 1
Buses M2, M3 and motor vehicles derived from them	01/11–15/03	Winter tyres at least on the wheels of one drive axle	§ 102 Abs. 8a Z 2
M2, M3, N2, N3 and motor vehicles derived from them	01/11–15/04	Carry suitable snow chains for at least two drive wheels	§ 102 Abs. 9
Cars and vans M1, N1	01/11–15/04	Only in winter road conditions: winter tyres on all wheels; on a continuous layer of snow or ice, snow chains on two drive wheels as an alternative	§ 102 Abs. 8a

Winter tyres within the meaning of the law: ‘tyres intended for use as snow and slush tyres with an appropriate tread depth’.

Tread depth

Minimum tread depth of winter tyres when used under § 102 Abs. 8a KFG
Vehicles	Radial tyres	Cross-ply tyres	Legal basis
Motor vehicles and trailers over 3,500 kg	min. 5 mm	min. 6 mm	KDV § 4 Abs. 4 Z 5
other vehicles	min. 4 mm	min. 5 mm	KDV § 4 Abs. 4 Z 4

Measured in the central part of the tread, which covers about three quarters of the tread width. A winter tyre must not be fitted together with a different tyre on the wheels of the same axle (KDV § 4 Abs. 4c).

Source KDV 1967 § 4 Abs. 4 und 4c (Profiltiefe, Winterreifen je Achse) · RIS – Rechtsinformationssystem des Bundes · Version in force since 29/03/2024 · accessed 05/10/2026 · checked on 06/10/2026 · CC BY 4.0

Strafrahmen (range of penalties)

Anyone who breaches the KFG (Austrian Motor Vehicle Act) or a regulation based on it commits an administrative offence: a fine of up to €10,000; if the fine cannot be collected, imprisonment of up to 6 weeks. For breaches of § 102 Abs. 8a and 9, § 134 does not specify a separate amount.

Source KFG 1967 § 134 Abs. 1 (Strafbestimmungen) · RIS – Rechtsinformationssystem des Bundes · Version in force since 01/10/2026 · accessed 05/10/2026 · checked on 06/10/2026 · CC BY 4.0

Exceptions

Winter tyres (Abs. 8a)

Vehicles that, by design or because of their intended use, have tyres with the usage designation ‘special’.
Public security service vehicles, military vehicles and fire brigade vehicles, if winter tyres are not possible or not practical because of their design or main intended use.
Test drives and transfer journeys.
Vehicles that by design are only intended for use on snow-free roads.

Snow chains (Abs. 9)

Vehicles on which chains cannot be fitted by design.
Vehicles that by design are only intended for use on snow-free roads.
Buses M2 and M3 in scheduled public transport services.
Transfers to the bodybuilder or customer, if the journey takes place on snow-free roads.

Wording

§ 102 Abs. 8a, erster SatzDer Lenker darf ein Kraftfahrzeug der Klassen 1. N2 und N3 sowie ein von solchen Fahrzeugen abgeleitetes Kraftfahrzeug während des Zeitraumes von jeweils 1. November bis 15. April oder 2. M2 und M3 sowie ein von solchen Fahrzeugen abgeleitetes Kraftfahrzeug von jeweils 1. November bis 15. März nur verwenden, wenn zumindest an den Rädern einer Antriebsachse Winterreifen (für die Verwendung als Schnee- und Matschreifen bestimmte Reifen mit entsprechender Profiltiefe) angebracht sind.
§ 102 Abs. 9, zweiter SatzDer Lenker eines Kraftfahrzeuges der Klassen M2, M3, N2 und N3 sowie eines von solchen Fahrzeugen abgeleiteten Kraftfahrzeuges hat während des Zeitraumes von jeweils 1. November bis 15. April geeignete Schneeketten für mindestens zwei Antriebsräder mitzuführen.

Unofficial reproduction from the RIS (Austrian legal information system). The promulgation in the Bundesgesetzblatt (Federal Law Gazette) is authoritative.

Frequently asked questions

When does the winter tyre requirement for trucks apply in Austria?: For trucks of categories N2 and N3 from 1 November to 15 April, regardless of the weather: winter tyres at least on the wheels of one drive axle (KFG 1967 § 102 Abs. 8a Z 1).
Do trucks in Austria have to carry snow chains?: Yes. Vehicles of categories M2, M3, N2 and N3 must carry suitable snow chains for at least two drive wheels from 1 November to 15 April (KFG 1967 § 102 Abs. 9).
How deep must the tread of truck winter tyres be?: For vehicles over 3,500 kg, at least 5 mm for radial tyres and 6 mm for cross-ply tyres, if the tyres are used as winter tyres under § 102 Abs. 8a KFG (KDV 1967 § 4 Abs. 4 Z 5).
What penalty applies in Austria?: A breach of the KFG is an administrative offence with a fine of up to €10,000; § 134 does not specify a separate amount for the winter tyre requirement (KFG 1967 § 134 Abs. 1).

Source and status

Source KFG 1967 § 102 Abs. 8a und 9 · RIS – Rechtsinformationssystem des Bundes · Version in force since 01/10/2026 · accessed 05/10/2026 · checked on 06/10/2026 · CC BY 4.0