Winter tyres become mandatory in Latvia on 1 December: what drivers need to know

Drivers in Latvia have just over three weeks to fit winter tyres. Under the country’s road traffic rules, cars and buses with a gross weight of up to 3.5 tonnes must be fitted with tyres designed for winter conditions from 1 December to 1 March. The Road Traffic Safety Directorate (CSDD) has urged drivers to change their tyres now rather than wait for the last week, when garages get queues.

What the rules require

• Marking: the tyre must carry the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol. Since 1 October 2024, tyres marked only M+S, M.S. or M&S have not counted as winter tyres and may be used only from 1 March to 1 December.
• Tread: from 1 December to 1 March the minimum is 4mm for vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes, 3mm for buses, 2mm for other vehicles over 3.5 tonnes and 1.6mm for trailers.
• Studs: studded tyres are allowed from 1 October to 30 April and must be fitted on all wheels.

The fine

Under the Road Traffic Law, a driver caught without winter tyres between 1 December and 1 March faces a €30 fine. The same fine applies to studded tyres between 1 May and 1 October.

How to check your tyres

Look for the symbol — a mountain outline with a snowflake — on the sidewall next to the size marking. Tread depth can be measured with a cheap gauge or checked at a tyre shop. The standard wear indicators in the grooves show the 1.6mm minimum, not the 4mm required in winter, so do not rely on them alone.

If your winter tyres are several seasons old, it is also worth checking that the tread has worn evenly on all of them and that there are no cracks in the sidewalls.