The key facts

  • From December to February, tires marked M+S or with the snowflake symbol are mandatory
  • The remaining tread depth of winter tires on ice must be at least 4.0 mm
  • The publication does not recommend buying used tires

Legal requirements and tread wear

Za Rulem magazine has published a piece on choosing winter tires, which Gazeta.Ru draws attention to. The publication reminds readers that from December to February, tires marked M+S or with the snowflake symbol are required by law. The tread depth of winter tires on snow and ice must be at least 4.0 mm — compared with 1.6 mm for summer tires. With greater wear, grip declines and studs hold less well, so there is no reason to put off replacing them.

Used tires and the market

The magazine does not recommend buying used tires: it is hard to assess the remaining tread from photos, and internal damage from improper use or storage is impossible to see. According to the publication, Russian production capacity is sufficient for domestic demand — for example, the Ikon Tyres plant in Vsevolozhsk produces 17 million tires a year, so there is no point in overpaying for parallel imports without factory warranties. There are nearly 300 Chinese brands on the market, but they do not lead in independent tests: winters in China are mild, and studded tires are banned there.

Which type of tire to choose

Studded tires perform better on ice, especially at near-zero temperatures. Scandinavian-type friction tires are suitable for severe frosts and driving on asphalt, while the European type is inferior to both options. Motorists were previously also told where to store summer tires so they don't have to buy new ones later.