No, studded tires are prohibited nationwide in Germany under §36 StVZO (Road Traffic Licensing Regulations). The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) enforces a blanket ban due to road surface damage, with no exceptions for commercial or emergency vehicles. Recent 2026 compliance directives emphasize stricter enforcement via automated traffic monitoring systems.
Key Regulations for Studded Tires in Germany
- §36 StVZO (StVZO 2026 Amendment): Explicitly bans studded tires on all vehicles, including foreign-registered cars, with fines up to €100 and one-point penalty in the Flensburg register.
- TÜV/DEKRA Inspections: Mandatory checks during annual technical inspections (Hauptuntersuchung) verify tire compliance; non-compliant vehicles fail inspection and cannot be registered.
- Regional Enforcement: Local authorities (e.g., Polizei Bayern, Ordnungsamt Berlin) deploy mobile radar and tire-pressure sensors to detect studded tires, particularly in mountainous areas like the Alps or Black Forest.
Vehicles equipped with studded tires must replace them with winter tires (marked “M+S” or Alpine symbol “3PMSF”) by October 1st annually. The BMDV’s 2026 directive introduces AI-driven license plate recognition to identify violations in real-time, increasing penalties to €120 for repeat offenders. Foreign drivers are subject to immediate confiscation of studded tires upon detection.