FOR SECURITY – Like every year, on October 15 the first ordinances that require motorists to drive with winter tires or chains on board in Italian roads where the obligation applies: starting from today, these equipment are mandatory for those who travel all the roads of the Aosta Valley and some mountain roads of other regions, such as a part of the state road del Colle del Sestriere, in Piedmont. The list of streets affected by local ordinances is visible on the website Tires under control.
FROM NOVEMBER 15th – However, most motorists still have time to adjust to ordinances: in many other roads, the obligation to wear winter tires or chains starts from November 15. The rule mostly concerns provincial or regional roads and motorways, where until 15 April 2021 the Authority that owns the road or the manager can prescribe that the vehicles be equipped with, or have on board, non-slip vehicles or winter tires suitable for running on snow or ice, as required by article 6 of the Highway Code.
SNOWFLAKE BETTER – To be in line with the Highway Code, winter tires must have the M + S code. The M + S marking corresponds to a simple self-certification of the manufacturer: it certifies that on slippery surfaces, such as mud and snow (the abbreviation M + S stands for Mud and Snow), these products have more grip than summer ones. Some tires may also have a stylized mountain logo with a Snowflake, which indicates tires that are even more effective on low-grip surfaces, but it is not essential to have this symbol to comply with the law. The snowflake symbol can be affixed only after rigorous homologation tests on snow, carried out in the presence of a person in charge of the Ministry, so the effectiveness of the rubber is much higher.
FINE FROM 41 EUROS – It is essential to mount 4 winter tires and not only 2 on the drive axle, to have a homogeneous behavior of the car and maintain stability when cornering and braking. In cold temperatures, equipping the vehicle with winter tires means reducing the braking distance by up to 15% on wet surfaces and up to 50% in the presence of snow. If you really don’t intend to mount the winter tires, you can alternatively ride with summer tires, as long as there are snow chains on board. The fine for those caught without M + S tires or without snow chains on board ranges from € 85 to € 338, but if the infringement is committed in the city (provided that the obligation is foreseen) the fee is paid from 41 to 169 euros.
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