All-season tyres in Austria: what you need to know
A good all-season tyre is a compromise, not a specialist. For many drivers in lowland areas with low mileage it is the better choice. For high-mileage drivers, heavy vehicles and snowy regions, dedicated summer and winter tyres remain ahead.
Winter tyres are mandatory in Austria
From 1 November to 15 April, cars must have winter equipment whenever there are wintry road conditions (snow, slush or ice). Winter tyres are tyres marked M+S or with the snowflake symbol – all-season tyres with these markings count as winter tyres. Alternatively, snow chains are allowed only on roads that are completely covered with snow or ice. Driving without winter equipment can mean a fine of around €100 (up to €10,000 if others are endangered), shared liability in an accident and trouble with your comprehensive insurance.
The 4 mm rule
In winter, winter and all-season tyres need at least 4 mm of tread (5 mm for bias-ply tyres). Below that, they no longer count as winter tyres. Outside the winter period you may keep using them down to the legal minimum of 1.6 mm – in practice, replace them before the next winter. Have your tread measured every autumn.
And for the annual inspection (“Pickerl”, §57a): since 1 November 2014 new cars have a tyre pressure monitoring system. If it does not work – for example because the winter wheels have no sensors – this counts as a major defect.
Only choose tyres with good test results
In the 2026 tests (size 185/65 R15), ÖAMTC (Austria's automobile club) and ADAC each rated only one model “good”. ÖAMTC gave five tyres a “fail”, ADAC did not recommend eight out of 16 – including premium brands. Test results apply per size: a model can do better or worse in another size. Choose a model with a good test result, ideally in your size.
When all-season tyres fit
- small and compact cars, compact SUVs up to about 1.8 t and 150 kW, wheels up to 17 inches
- mileage below about 10,000–12,000 km a year (ÖAMTC: sensible below 10,000 km); weigh it up to 20,000 km
- lowland areas and regions with few snow days
- you can leave the car at home or wait when it snows heavily
When summer and winter tyres are better
- more than 20,000 km a year
- heavy SUVs, powerful cars, heavy electric cars, vans
- regular drives into the mountains, ski resorts, mountain passes
- trailers, full loads, long motorway trips in summer heat
- you must be on time in any weather
- premium SUVs, luxury and sports cars: manufacturers often approve only tyres with their own marking (e.g. ★ for BMW, MO for Mercedes, N0 for Porsche, AO for Audi), which hardly exist as all-season tyres.
The right time to switch
Replacing good tyres early only costs money. Switch when your next set is due. The best moment is when you buy a car: with all-season tyres you don't need a second set of wheels.
An annual check instead of tyre changes
All-season tyres save two tyre changes a year. Still, visit a tyre specialist once every autumn: measure the tread, swap tyres between axles, check pressure and condition.
Austria's provinces compared: days with snow cover
Median of the districts, plus the district with the least and the most snow (district capital, winters 1995–2025). Conditions can differ hugely within one province.
Marker = median of the districts (number on the right), light bar = from the district with the least to the one with the most snow.
How Austria decides
What Reifenkompass users are leaning towards after their assessment – per province, once there are at least 30 answers.
Not enough answers yet. As soon as there are enough, the results per province will appear here.
Where the figures come from
Snow days per district: GeoSphere Austria (SNOWGRID-CL and SPARTACUS, winters 1995–2025, CC BY 4.0). Postcodes: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Legal situation: ÖAMTC. Tyre tests: ÖAMTC and ADAC 2026. Service prices: survey by the Chamber of Labour Upper Austria (March 2026). Tyre prices and wear: model values for compact cars.