If you are new to the cold climate of Sweden, you might not know that you are legally required to use different tyres in summer and winter. In Sweden, winter tyres (also called studded tyres) are used when there is any snow, ice, snowdrifts, or frost on the roads. Once the temperatures get warmer and winter conditions end, you must change your winter tyres to summer tyres.
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Which date must I change winter tyres in Sweden?
The end of winter conditions on the roads depends on where you live in Sweden, but generally the last date that you can legally drive with studded winter tyres is the 16th of April. However, if winter conditions are still expected in your area past this date, you should keep your winter tyres on.
The important thing is to keep an eye on the weather forecast in your area. Between the 16th of April and the 30th of September, you should drive with summer tyres. Unless there is an unexpected event of winter weather conditions between those dates.
Where can I change winter and summer tyres in Sweden?
Changing your tyres twice a year can be costly and stressful if you are not super car-savvy. And being in a new country only adds to the confusion! So it is only natural if you are wondering, ‘where and how do I change my winter or summer tyres in Sweden?’ To help you out, here are a few places you can go to for summer tyre-changing services:
At Autoexperten* you can simply take your car into one of their workshops and they will take care of putting your summer tyres onto your car. Additionally, they offer storage for your winter tyres. You find Autoexperten all over Sweden, simply find a workshop near your location and book an appointment.
Däckskiftarna* has 74 temporary tyre-changing stations around Sweden specifically for swapping out your winter tyres for summer tyres and vice versa. Most stations are open between mid-March and early-May and between mid-October and Early December. The great thing about their tyre-changing stations is that they don’t require bookings. Simply check the opening hours of your local station on their website and drop-in with whenever it suits you.
Tip: You can save money if you purchase your tyres online and have them delivered to your local car repair shop or to your home:
Bythjul* offers a huge range of tyres on their web shop and they promise fast delivery times with up to 40% of savings compared to regular car repair shops.
Dackonline allows you to put in your car model or required tyre measurements to bring up a wide range of different tyres available, which is great for quickly comparing brands and prices.
Once you have your summer or winter tyres sorted, it’s time to day-dream about your next Swedish road trip!
Remember: It’s important to change over the wheels on your car whether you know them as tyres or tires!
Further reading
Still don’t have a drivers license? Here is our step-by-step guide to a Swedish driving license.
I lived in Stockholm for 16 months and got back to London yesterday. I initially hated Sweden then got used to it. Now I’m just missing it so much I just cannot believe it. I had no idea. This why I’m on this blog. I’m scared I’ve made a horrible decision coming back to London. There’s a big part of me who just wants to get on a flight and come back
I think it is common to initially not like Sweden much. It can be an acquired taste:-) Sorry to hear you are not unsure of your decision. Perhaps you can post your thoughts on our FB group and see if you can get some general advice? Perhaps there are others who are or have been in the same situation: https://www.facebook.com/groups/947895018639864
Hope you find the best solution.
Good luck and hugs,
Julieta from The Newbie Team