The key facts
- The mandatory winter tire period is from December 1 to the end of February; there is no fine in November regardless of the weather
- From December 1 — a warning or a 500-ruble fine under Part 1 of Article 12.5 of the Russian Code of Administrative Offenses
- The deputy proposes adapting the deadlines to the climate of the regions and advises changing tires at a steady +5…+7 °C
The calendar, not the weather: when liability for summer tires begins
In Russia, drivers of passenger cars and light trucks cannot be fined for summer tires in November, even if there is already snow on the roads: the mandatory period for using winter tires under traffic rules begins only on December 1 and lasts until the end of February. Life.ru was told this by State Duma deputy Nikolai Alekseenko. The requirements, he said, are tied to the calendar rather than the actual weather, and apply throughout the country, including southern regions with warm winters.
What awaits drivers from December 1 and what the requirements for the tires themselves are
From December 1, a driver on summer tires may receive a warning or a 500-ruble fine under Part 1 of Article 12.5 of the Russian Code of Administrative Offenses. At the same time, the absence of a fine in November does not remove liability for the consequences of an accident: if a driver lost control on an icy road, the condition of the tires may be taken into account during the investigation, but the driver is found guilty only if a traffic rule violation that led to the crash is established. Alekseenko also reminded that winter tires must be fitted on all four wheels — a combination of two winter and two summer tires is not allowed. All-season models with the M+S marking may formally meet the requirements, but they do not guarantee sufficient grip on snow and ice. On snow-covered or icy surfaces, it is prohibited to use winter tires with a remaining tread depth of 4 mm or less if there are no wear indicators.
The deputy's proposal and practical context for drivers
Alekseenko himself believes that the calendar deadlines, uniform for all of Russia, should be adapted to the climate of the regions: in the north, snow can lie from October to April. The deputy's practical advice is not to wait until December and to change tires when the average daily temperature steadily drops to +5…+7 degrees, since summer tires grip the road worse on cold asphalt, snow and ice, and the braking distance can increase significantly. Earlier, Life.ru published a forecast for Moscow motorists for the autumn of 2026: weather forecaster Alexander Shuvalov expected a steady cooling in early November, while auto expert Alexei Chugaev recommended monitoring the condition of the tread and studs and estimated the cost of a new set of tires at 20–60 thousand rubles, with premium models up to 200 thousand. The outlet publishes such explanations from deputies and lawyers in its 'Comments to Life' section.
