‘Can I use all-season tyres in Sweden for the whole year?’ Trust us, that is a common question from newbies. The short answer is that there are rules and laws in Sweden about having tyres that are approved for both winter and summer conditions. For the long answer – read on.
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You are in fact allowed to use all-season tyres in Sweden. However, In order for all-season tyres to be approved according to the Swedish Transport Agency, they must be marked with the symbol alp top/snowflake, M+S, M.S, M & S, M-S, MS or “Mud and Snow”. Tyres with that marking must be able to handle a certain traction on snow to be approved. In Sweden, there is no clear “summer tyre law” that regulates the types of tires we have in the summer, apart from the ban on studs. It is thus legal to drive with European friction tyres/all-round tires in the summer, but it is by many considered not optimal.
Why can’t I drive with winter tyres in the summer in Sweden?
While it’s an obvious no-go and safety hazard to drive on winter roads with non-winter tyres (and you can face a hefty fine for not using them), you may wonder why you can’t use winter tyres on the roads during summer.
The answer is that winter tyres are specifically designed for cold temperatures and wintery weather conditions including ice and snow, meaning the material used on these tyres is not optimal for driving on summer roads. Using your winter tyres all-year round in Sweden will cause the tyres to wear down very quickly during warmer weather due to their softer tread. Additionally, the high rolling resistance of winter tyres becomes a safety hazard on warm roads as it will take you longer to make quick maneuvers and turns.
Are all season tyres a good choice?
Well, ultimately that is down to your specific circumstances but opinions about all-season tires are divided and it largely depends on where in the country you live. These types of tyres work best in countries where the temperature does not fluctuate as much as it does in many places in Sweden. If you live in the southern parts of Sweden, you may not have many days with freezing temperatures, snow and ice on the roads and want to drive on such a type of tyre.
If you drive on all-season tyres, you should check that it is the correct marking on the tire as we mentioned above. Also keep a good eye on the tyre pattern so that they are not too worn, especially after a summer season. Keep in mind that you need to change tyres more often than if you have two sets of winter/summer tyres. Partly because you use them more frequently, but also because they wear more in the summer due to the softer rubber compound.
Where and how do I change my winter and summer tyres in Sweden?
If you need to change over to summer or winter tyres in Sweden and don’t know where to start you can visit the following websites to find a tyre-changing service near you, or you can order tyres online to be delivered to either your home or regular car repair shop:
- Workshops located all over Sweden
- They will take care of putting your summer tyres on for you
- You can choose to store your winter tyres at their ‘tyre hotel’ until you need them again
- 74 temporary tyre-changing stations around Sweden specifically for swapping out your winter tyres for summer tyres
- No bookings required, just drop-in when it suits you
- Huge range of tyres on their web shop
- Fast delivery times to your home or local car repair shop
- Offers a wide range of tyres based on your car model or required tyre size
- Great for comparing different brands and prices for tyres
- Delivers tyres to your local car repair shop or your home
Remember: It’s important to change over the wheels on your car whether you know them as tyres or tires!
A final note on car insurance
If you own a car in Sweden you need to have a traffic insurance, also called a third part liability insurance (trafikförsäkring) to be allowed to drive the car. It covers injuries and damage resulting from use of the car but it does not compensate damage you cause to your own car or other property you own.
Getting a car insurance however is up to you, although it is generally recommended to get insurance for your car. It is usually a rather reasonable monthly expense which will protect you from the sometimes insane costs of getting a car fixed, towed or any other joyous car malfunction. There are a lot of car insurances around so make sure to shop around before deciding. Some options include:
- Hedvig* – aims to disrupt the old insurance industry which they do by offering a fully mobile based insurance so that you get insurance that is fast, simple and fair.
- Ica insurance* – has a fixed price and no price increase for the first five years if you are claim-free. Are highly rated by the Consumers’ Insurance Agency.
Further reading
Still don’t have a drivers license? Here is our step-by-step guide to a Swedish driving license.
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M+S tyres that are approved by swedish standards can be driven all year.