Drivers in Finland face new winter tire regulations starting December 1

Drivers using studless winter tires should be aware of upcoming legal changes this autumn. Starting December 1, the use of older M+S marked tires will be illegal for winter driving. M+S stands for “Mud and Snow,” but from now on, winter tires must meet stringent winter conditions criteria. This means that tires must have the 3PMSF marking, known as the mountain symbol, or be studded.

Traffic authorities report that they do not have an exact count of how many drivers will be affected by this change, but it is estimated that 20-30% of winter tires in Finland are studless. Lari Mäkelä, a training supervisor at the Finnish Traffic Safety Agency, mentioned that there shouldn’t be many older M+S marked tires still in use, as they are outdated and in need of replacement.

Policing and vehicle inspection authorities in Finland will monitor tire conditions.

As the first frosts arrive, tire shops are starting to receive requests for winter tire changes, although these are currently infrequent. However, drivers heading north or those traveling early in the morning are already switching to winter tires. Timo Lehto, manager at Euromaster in Tampere, advises that October 10 is typically the best time to change to winter tires based on past experience, although he recommends doing so even earlier to avoid the rush.

Drivers can now confidently switch to studless tires, and Lehto suggests changing to studded tires if driving will be light in the coming weeks, noting that icy conditions will soon be prevalent, with snow expected in a few weeks. By law, the use of studded tires is permitted from early November or when weather conditions require it.